"Of course," said the Resident, "if there should be any threatening of trouble you will come across to the island till it is over. I would not show that we are at all uneasy, doctor; only be upon one's guard." "Yes," said Mrs Doctor, who had been listening attentively, "that will be best. There may be no trouble over the matter, Mr Harley, and I think we should, as you say, be doing wrong by seeming to be alarmed." "Then my expedition is quashed for the present," said the doctor, dolefully. "It can wait, I am sure," said his lady, quietly; and her lord resigned himself to his fate as the Resident repeated his advice about not spreading the alarm and exciting the natives by whom they were surrounded, and then left them to go to the fort on the Residency island--a picturesque little clump of rocky earth that divided the river into two parts. On mounting upon the bamboo landing-stage the first person he encountered was Captain Hilton. Knowing as he did that the young officer had been very attentive to Helen Perowne of late, he hesitated for a few moments, naturally feeling a repugnance to speak upon such matters to one whom other men would have considered a rival; but after a little thought he laughed to himself. "I am a fatalist," he muttered, "and I am not afraid. Here, Hilton," he said, aloud, "I want to speak to you. Ah, there's Chumbley, too. Don't take any particular notice," he continued, as he noted that several of the natives were about. "Have a cigar?" He drew out his case as he spoke, and Lieutenant Chumbley coming sauntering up in his cool, idle way, the case was offered to him, and the three gentlemen went slowly along the well-kept military path towards the little mess-room. "Anything wrong?" said Captain Hilton, eagerly; and as he spoke the Resident saw his eyes turn in the direction of Mr Perowne's house on the east bank of the river. "Not at present; but the fact is, I am afraid Mr Perowne has seriously affronted the Rajah this morning, and I think it would be as well to be upon our guard." "Got any more of these cigars, Harley?" said Chumbley, quietly. "I like 'em." "For Heaven's sake do hold your tongue, Chumbley!" cried the captain. "I never did see a fellow so cool and indifferent." "Why not?" replied Chumbley, in his slow drawl. "There's nothing wrong, only that the Rajah has been to Perowne's this morning to propose for the fair Helen, and he has come away with a flea in his ear." "What?" cried Captain Hilton. "How did you know?" exclaimed the Resident, turning upon Chumbley, sharply. "Guessed it--knew it would come from what I saw last night. That's it, isn't it?" "Yes, that is it," replied the Resident, frowning slightly. "The insolence--the consummate ignorant audacity!" cried the captain, his face flushing with anger. "The dog! I'll horsewhip him till he begs for mercy!" "You will do nothing of the kind, Hilton," said the Resident quietly.