The tone was dry, and--she thought--rather curious. She went on-- "I have more than one grievance against you, Mr Lamont. First of all, why didn't you come in and see us last night? We had quite a number of men dropping in." "All the more reason why I shouldn't, isn't it? Too much of a crowd, you know." "No, I don't. We can never have too much of a crowd of our friends." He laughed--again, she thought, strangely. "That's novel doctrine to me, anyway," he said. "I was always under the impression one could--and very much so. But I don't think your brother-in-law likes me. Isn't that good enough excuse?" "No, it isn't. Dick doesn't constitute the whole establishment. But, here is another thing. I own I've been dying of curiosity over it ever since. Why was it of so much importance that you should spend the rest of the day with that snuffy old savage? You were sticking to him closer than a brother. In fact you were at each other's elbow all the time. More than one noticed it." "Oh, did they?" and here she noticed a touch of concern in his tone. Then, as if he had come to some sudden resolution, "I believe you have good nerves, Miss Vidal?" "Yes," wonderingly. "Well, get Fullerton to take, or send, you and your sister into Buluwayo without further delay." Now Clare wondered indeed. "Why?" she said simply. "Yes, that's a fair question. But if I explain, will you undertake not to get panic-stricken, and also to leave events to me--in short, not to give away what I may tell you, no, not even to your sister." "Why, of course. But--you don't mean to say these savages are meditating a war--on us?" "Yes I do. And not only that, but the whole thing is cut and dried, and it's only a question when to begin. Now I shall be able to answer your other question. You thought me no end boorish and ungracious yesterday. Well, the reason why I stuck to old Qubani like a brother, instead of being of service to you, was that, if I had not, the whole of Gandela would at this moment be a heap of ashes, and the race-course piled with the bodies of every man, woman, and child in the place." "Good Heavens! You don't mean that?" ejaculated Clare, staring at him. "Certainly I do. There was an impi stationed here--up here where we are sitting, and at a signal from Qubani it was to rush the whole show. And then--" "What was the signal?" "He was to throw up the red cap he was wearing. It was to be done during the prize-giving, so as to be less noticeable." "And--you prevented him?"