The suspicion had but a slight basis, still it was enough; and eager as he was to find something to which he could cling, Neil Harley felt for the moment glad of the mental suggestion, and felt that all idea of some terrible boat accident might be set aside, for at last he had found the clue. VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER SEVEN. NO FALSE SCENT. Neil Harley's new suspicion, one which he was cautious not to mention as yet, was that, in accordance with the Malay character, this revengeful blow had come from one who owed the English community or Government a grudge. The Rajah had been the first to suffer from suspicion, but his coming had cleared him somewhat in the eyes of his friends; still there was one who might well feel enmity against the English for the part they had played, and this was one who had not been to clear herself from suspicion. The Inche Maida had come to the Residency island humbly with her petition--a reasonable suppliant for help against her enemies. She had had her request, if not refused, at all events treated with official neglect. It was no wonder, then, that she should feel aggrieved, and, while wearing the mask of friendship, take some steps to obtain mental satisfaction for the slight. The Resident pondered upon all this, and felt that she must naturally be deeply wounded. She had borne her disappointment with the patience and stoicism of one of her religion; but all the same she might have been waiting for an opportunity to strike. "Allah's will be done!" she had said at their last interview, when the Resident had made a further communication from Government; and she had bent her head and sighed deeply as she turned to go away, but only to return, shake hands with Mr Harley, and thank him. "You are a good man, Mr Harley," she had said, "and I know you would have helped me if you could." "Yes, she has been most friendly ever since," he mused, "and her behaviour last night at the party was all that could have been desired." Still, he argued, she was a Malay, and all this might have been to serve as a blind to her future acts. She must feel very bitter, and, with all an Eastern's cunning, she must have been nursing up her wrath till an opportunity occurred for revenge. This, perhaps, would be that revenge. "No," he said, "it was childish;" and he felt directly after that he was maligning a really amiable woman. He ended by thinking that he could judge her by her acts. If she were innocent of all complicity in the abduction of Helen--if abduction it was--she would come and display her sympathy to her English friends in this time of trouble. "What do you think, Miss Stuart?" he said, leading her into the opening of a window. "The Inche Maida has cause of complaint against us. Do you think she has had anything to do with getting Helen away?" "No, I'm certain she has not," cried Grey, flushing warmly. "She is too good and true a woman." "Do you think she likes Helen?" asked the Resident.