“I cannot get rid of my melancholy forebodings. And you, yourself, Mr. Heideck--please be straightforward with me! When the adjutant was standing there a little while ago, and when every one of his words showed the want of circumspection in our generals, I watched your face, and I read more from its expression than you have any idea of. I will not try to enter into your secrets, but I should be grateful if you would be candid with me. You are not the person for whom you here give yourself out.” He did not hesitate for a moment to confess to her the truth. “No, I am a German officer, and have been sent here by my superiors to study the Anglo-Indian army.” Edith’s surprise was evidently not great. “I had an inkling of it. And now please answer my question quite as straightforwardly. Do you believe that the British army will be victorious?” “I would not permit myself to give an opinion on this point, Mrs. Irwin.” “But you must have an idea. And I would give a great deal to know what it is.” “Well, then--I believe in English bravery, but not in English victory.” She heaved a deep sigh, but she nodded her head in assent, as if he had only expressed her own conviction. Then she gave him her hand and said softly-- “I thank you for your confidence, and as a matter of course no one shall ever learn from me who you are. But now I must insist more than ever that you leave us for your own safety’s sake.” “And if I were to refuse? Supposing that in my position as soldier I were to consider it to be my duty not to leave you in the lurch? Would you be angry with me? Would you no longer permit me to enjoy the happiness of your society?” Her breast heaved, but she bowed her head and was silent. Heideck plainly saw the glistening tears which stole from under her eyelids, and slowly rolled down her delicate cheek. That was answer enough for him. He bowed, and kissing both her hands, whispered-- “I knew that you would not be so cruel as to drive me from you. Wherever fate may lead me, it will find me at your side as long as you require my protection.” For a few seconds she let him keep her hand. She then gently withdrew it from his grasp. “I know that I ought to forbid you for your own safety to follow me; but I have not the strength to do so. Heaven grant that you may never reproach me for having acted as I have done.” XII THE CAMP OF LAHORE An unusually beautiful and dry spring favoured the advance of the Russian army through the mountains. In the north of India the temperature kept at an average of 68 degrees F., and day after day the sun streamed down from a cloudless blue sky upon the broad plains of the Punjab, through the bright green of which the Russian troops, in their white summer uniforms, pushed on like long streaks of silver. Everything pointed to the fortune of war being on their side, for they had overcome the difficult and dreaded passage at Attock with unexpected ease.