When Noreen went to bed that night she lay awake for some time thinking of their new friend.  In addition to her natural feeling of gratitude to him for saving her from deadly peril, there was the consciousness that he was eminently likable in himself.  His strength of character, his manliness, the suggestion of mystery about him in his power over wild animals and the fearlessness with which he risked the dangers of the forest, all increased the attraction that he had for her.  Still thinking of him she fell asleep.

And Dermot?  Truth to tell, his thoughts dwelt longer on Chunerbutty and Narain Dass than on Miss Daleham.  He liked the girl, admired her nature, her unaffected and frank manner, her kind and sunny disposition.  He considered her decidedly pretty; but her good looks did not move him much, for he was neither impressionable nor susceptible, and had known too many beautiful women the world over to lose his heart readily.  Possibly under other circumstances he might not have given the girl a second thought, for women had never bulked largely in his life.  But the strange beginning of their acquaintance had given her, too, a special interest.

The Dalehams’ arrival at the club the next day with their guest caused quite a sensation.  At any time a stranger was a refreshing novelty to this isolated community.  But in addition Dermot had the claim of old friendship with one of their members, and the other men knew him by repute.  So he was welcomed with the open-hearted hospitality for which planters are deservedly renowned.

Mrs. Rice took complete possession of him as soon as he was introduced to her, insisted on his sitting beside her at lunch and monopolised him after it.  Noreen, rather to her own surprise, felt a little indignant at the calm appropriation of her new friend by the older woman, and a faint resentment against Dermot for acquiescing in it.  She was a little hurt, too, at his ignoring her.

But the soldier had not come there to talk to ladies.  He soon managed to escape from Mrs. Rice’s clutches in order to have a serious talk with his old friend Payne, which resulted in the latter adroitly gathering the older and more dependable men together outside the building on the pretext of inspecting the future polo ground.  In reality it was to afford Dermot an opportunity of disclosing to them as much of the impending peril of invasion as he judged wise.  The planters would be the first to suffer in such an event.  He wanted to put them on their guard and enlist their help in the detection of a treacherous correspondence between external and internal foes.  This they readily promised, and they undertook to watch the Bengalis among their coolies.

The Dalehams and their guest did not reach Malpura until after sundown, and Dermot was persuaded to remain another night under their roof.

On the following morning the brother and sister rode out with him to the scene of Noreen’s adventure.  He was on foot and was accompanied by two coolies carrying his elephant’s pad.  The girl was not surprised, although Fred Daleham was, at Badshah’s appearance from the forest in response to a whistle from his master.  And when, after a friendly farewell, man and animal disappeared in the jungle, Noreen was conscious of the fact that they had left a little ache in her heart.