messroom by the officers, also showed signs of life.  Dinner was over, and a number of gentlemen sat down to a game of cards, as was their daily custom.  But here the amusement was of a less harmless character than in the case of the private soldiers.  For not innocent bridge, but “poker” was the order of the day, a game much affected in America and also in some parts of England, a game which is solely determined by chance together with a certain histrionic bluffing on the part of the players, and the stakes were rather high.  It was mostly played by the younger gentlemen, who could not do without their nerve-tonic in the evenings, in the monotony of camp life.  The older men sat apart at tables, talking and drinking whisky-and-soda, and smoking their short pipes.  Amongst them there was also a gentleman in civilian dress.  The hospitality with which he was treated showed that he was not one of the officers of the regiment, but their guest.  The sound of his name—­he was addressed as Mr. Heideck—­would have betrayed his German origin, even had his appearance not proclaimed it.  He was of but medium height, but athletic in build.  His erect, soldiery bearing and the elasticity of his movements plainly betokened his excellent health and considerable bodily strength.  A foreigner can hardly present better credentials to an Englishman than these qualities.  Perhaps, more than anything else, it was his distinguished appearance, in conjunction with his amiable and thoroughly gentlemanly bearing, that had so quickly opened the usually very exclusive officers’ circle to the young German, with his clever, energetic features, and his honest blue eyes.

Judged by his profession he did not, perhaps, belong to their society, according to the ideas of some of these gentlemen.  It was known that he was travelling for a large commercial house in Hamburg.  His uncle, the head of the house, imported indigo.  And since the Maharajah of Chanidigot was the owner of very extensive indigo fields, young Heideck had been detained here a whole fortnight by commercial negotiations with the prince.  He had succeeded, during this time, in gaining the lively sympathies of all, but particularly of the older British officers.  In Indian garrisons every European is welcome.  Heideck was also invited to those social functions at which the ladies of the regiment were present.

He had always refused an invitation to cards with polite firmness, and to-day also he was at most an uninterested and unconcerned spectator.

Presently the door of the tent opened and a tall, but extremely slim officer joined the circle of his comrades, jingling his spurs with a self-conscious, almost haughty attitude.  He was in undress uniform and talked to one of the gentlemen, who addressed him as Captain Irwin, about just returning from a fatiguing ride for the inspection of an outpost.  He demanded from one of the orderlies in attendance a refreshing drink, the favourite whisky-and-soda, then he drew close to the gaming-table.