"You had better read it yourself. He has been turning out a native collector or commissioner, and the place is up in arms. He found him out in 'bribery and corruption,' the usual thing with a native official. But this particular man was the son of a big gun out there, and I'm afraid he has raised a hornet's nest about his ears. What with the depredations of native robbers, and the corruption of many of the officials, those small outposts are not a treat, I can tell you. I know a little about them. And these Radicals in Parliament are, of course, thrusting their noses into the pie, and calling out that colour and the rights of the native are not being respected." Sidney took the paper in her hand with beating heart. Why she was so agitated she could hardly explain to herself. She had written to her "fellow builder" only a week previously, one of her gay, sweet letters, ending with some earnest bracing words of cheer and stimulation. As she saw his name in print, and his actions criticised and questioned in the House, the warm colour crept into her cheeks. She read an extract from a letter of his which was quoted: "I will sooner resign my post than wink at a system of job and corruption." And she looked up at her father with glowing eyes. "What a pity we have not a few more men like him, dad." "I'll write him a line of congratulation," the Admiral said, turning to his writing table. "He is standing alone at present; but the Viceroy will back him up. People at home are so terribly afraid of the natives rising that they think nothing of recalling a man who is doing his simple duty. I know all about it. Those who have travelled round the world as I have, see a little farther than these country bumpkins who push themselves into Parliament, and think that any trouble with natives means unjust oppression on our part." "I hope they will give him a free hand," Sidney said. "He told me he had been born under an unlucky star. It would be rather hard to recall him. They couldn't do it, could they?" The Admiral shook his head. "He'll win his way sooner or later. I always said so, and why not now?" In a few days' time they saw from the papers that troops had been called out, and a horde of fanatics had swept down from the hills to join in the mêlée. Sidney watched for the news breathlessly. She was astonished when Gavine appeared one morning and begged to know if the daily paper had come. "We don't get ours so soon as the Admiral, and I want to see something in it." "It has not come yet. Sit down and wait. It won't be long now. What is it you want to see, Gavine?" "Oh, only the account of this row on one of the Indian frontiers." "Are you interested in it?" "Very. I know someone out there." Gavine was blushing. Sidney looked at her in amazement. "Do confide in me. Father and I are interested too, in someone out there. Do you know Mr. Neville?" "No, but I've heard of him."