Dermot watched him with curiosity as he placed the vase on the floor near the bed and picked up the cane.  Putting its point under the cobra he lifted the wriggling body on the stick and with some difficulty dropped the snake into the vase, where they heard its head striking the sides with furious blows.

“I hope it won’t break the damned thing just when I’m carrying it,” he said, regarding the vase anxiously.

“What are you doing that for?” asked Dermot.

The police officer lowered his voice.

“Well, Major, we don’t want these would-be murderers to know how their trick failed.  That’s the reason I didn’t pound the brute to a jelly on the bed, for it would have made such a mess on the sheet.  Now there isn’t a speck on it.  I’ll take the vase with me into my room and finish the cobra off.  In the morning I’ll get rid of its body somehow.  When these devils find tomorrow that you’re not dead, they’ll be very puzzled.  Now, the question is, what are you going to do?”

“Going to bed,” answered Dermot, continuing to undress.  “There’s nothing else to be done at this hour, is there?”

The police officer looked at him with admiration.

“By George, sir, you’ve got pluck.  If it were I, I’d want to sit up all night with a pistol.”

“Not you.  Otherwise you wouldn’t be in the place at all.  Besides you are qualifying for delicate little attentions like this.”  And Dermot flicked the ash of his cigarette into the vase in which the cobra still writhed and twisted.

“Oh, well, they haven’t tumbled to me yet,” said the young police officer, making light of his own courage.  “I suppose you won’t make any fuss about this?”

“Of course not.  We’ve got no proof against any one.”

“But do you think it wise for you to stay on here, sir?  They’ll only try again.”

Dermot lit a fresh cigarette.

“Well, it can’t be helped.  It’s all in the day’s work.  I’m due to stay here two days more, and I’m damned if I’m going to move before then.  As you know, it doesn’t do to show these people the white feather.  Besides, I’m rather interested to see what they’ll try next.”

“You’re a cool hand, Major.  Well, since you look at it that way, there’s nothing more to be said.  I see you’re ready for bed, so I’ll take my lamp and bit of pottery, and trek.”

“Oh, just one moment, Barclay.”  Dermot sank his voice.  “Did you notice the Rajah’s catch-’em-alive-ohs on sentry?”

“You mean his soldiers?  No, I can’t say I did.”

“Well, just have a look at them tomorrow.  I want to have a talk with you about them.”

“I’d like to strip these bed-clothes off.  I don’t fancy them after the snake.  Luckily it’s so hot that one doesn’t want even a sheet tonight.  Let me see if there’s another cobra under the pillow.  It’s said that they generally go about in pairs.”  He turned over the pillow.  “No; that’s all right.”