"It is only fair to consult him as to our next proceedings," said the Resident, gloomily; and almost in silence they were paddled across to the mainland, and went up to the scene of last night's festivities, where everything looked dismal and in confusion. Half-burnt lanterns hung amidst the trees, tables and chairs were piled up anyhow in the grounds, and the lawn was strewn with the _debris_ of the feast yet uncleared away, the attention of the servants having been so much occupied with their search. The two new-comers found Mr Perowne quite prostrate with this terrible anxiety, and Mr Stuart trying, with his daughter, to administer some little consolation in the way of hope. "Cheer up, mon!" the old Scot was saying. "I daresay she'll turn up all right yet." Mr Perowne looked at him so reproachfully that the old Scot paused and then turned uneasily away. "Poor wretch!" he muttered; "he has trouble eneuch--enough I mean." "Ah! Harley, what news?" cried Mr Perowne. "None as yet," was the reply. "Have you sent out boats?" "Yes, eight; and let us hope that they will discover something." "But you do not think they will?" The Resident was silent. "Harley here thinks that the Rajah is at the bottom of it all," said the doctor. "Impossible!" cried the unhappy father. "He was here when she was missed, or I might have suspected him. I fear it is something worse than even that." "I cannot help my suspicions," said the Resident, quietly. "Perhaps I wrong him." "I think ye do, Harley," said the old Scot. "I saw him here long after Miss Helen must have been gone. I'm thinking she and the young officers have taken a boat and gone down the river for a wee bit of game, seeing the night was fine." "Oh! papa," cried Grey, "I am sure Helen would not have been so imprudent." "I'm sure it's very kind of ye to think so well o' your schoolfellow, but I'm no' so sure. Trust me, the Rajah had no hand in the matter." "He has plenty of servants who would work his will," said the Resident, thoughtfully; "but this charge of mine must not go forth to Murad's ears. If I am wronging an innocent man, we shall have made a fresh enemy; and Heaven knows we have enough without that!" "You may be right," said the doctor, "but I have my doubts." "He's wrong," said old Stuart. "He's not the man with the spirit in him to do so stirring a thing." "And he would never take off those two young fellows and my brother-in-law." "I begin to think he has," said Perowne, snatching at the solution once more, after holding the opinion and casting it off a dozen times. "He has never forgiven her for her refusal. Are we to sit still under his insult, Harley? You have plenty of men under your command." "True," said the Resident; "but should I be justified in calling them out and making a descent on Murad's town upon the barest suspicion?"