“Don’t be horrid, Nick!  Why won’t you tell me?” Muriel laid a pleading hand upon his.

He caught it to his lips.  “I can’t tell you, darling, seeing she is a woman.  An unpleasant adventure befell her once for which I was partially responsible.  And she has hated me with most unseemly vehemence ever since.”

A light began to break upon Muriel.  “Was it something that happened on board ship?” she hazarded.

He gave her a sharp look.  “Who told you that?”

She flushed a little.  “Bobby Fraser.  He didn’t mention her name, of course.  We—­we were talking about you once.”

Nick laughed aloud.  “Only once?”

Her colour deepened.  “You are positively ridiculous.  Still, I wish it hadn’t been Lady Bassett, Nick.  I don’t like to feel she hates you like that.”

“It doesn’t hurt me in the least,” Nick declared.  “Her poison-fang is extracted so far as I am concerned.  She could only poison me through you.  I always knew I had her to thank for what happened at Simla.”

“Oh, but not her alone,” Muriel said quickly.  “You mustn’t blame her only for that.  I was prejudiced against you by—­other things.”

“I know all about it,” said Nick.  He was holding her hand in his, moving it hither and thither to catch the gleam of the rubies upon it.  “You were a poor little scared rabbit fleeing from a hideous monster of destruction.  You began to run that last night at Wara when I made you drink that filthy draught, and you have hardly stopped yet.  I don’t suppose it ever occurred to you that I would rather have died in torment than have done it.”  He broke into a sudden laugh.  “But you needn’t be afraid that I shall ever do it again.  I can’t do much to any one with only one arm, can I?  You witnessed my futility last night.  There’s a grain of comfort in that, eh, darling?”

“Nick, don’t, don’t!” She turned to him impulsively and laid her cheek against his shoulder.  “You—­you don’t know how you hurt me!”

“My dear girl, what’s the matter?” said Nick.  “I was only trying to draw your attention to my good points—­such as they are.”

“Don’t!” she said again, in a choked voice.  “It’s more than I can bear.  You would never have lost your arm but for me.”

“Oh, rats!” said Nick, holding her closely.  “Whoever told you that—­”

“It was Dr. Jim.”

“Well, Jim’s an ass, and I shall tell him so.  There, don’t fret, darling.  It isn’t worth it.  I could wish it hadn’t happened for your sake, but I don’t care a rap for my own.”

“You are not to care for mine,” she whispered.  “I shall only love you the better for it.”

“Then it will be a blessing to me after all,” said Nick cheerily.  “Do you know what we are going to do as soon as we are married, sweetheart?  We are going to climb the highest mountain in the world, to see the sun rise, and to thank God.”

She turned her face upwards with a quivering smile.  “Let us be married soon then, Nick.”