The shopkeeper regarded them gravely and sadly, as though he felt deeply the doubts they had cast upon his honesty. He produced one article after another, tempting them in vain to buy. At length, guessing that the boy had set his heart upon the bangle, he offered him the pretty toy for thirty rupees, assuring him that he had given twice that sum to the Kazilbash. "I'll give you fifteen," said Ted, "and not an anna more." The Hindu shook his head. "I am poor man," said he, "else would I gladly beg the sahib to accept it as a present." "Very well," Ted firmly rejoined. "Come along, Alec." They turned to go, but the Hindu hastily recalled them. "Nay," said he, "I had forgotten that the sahib had to suffer the loss of the first one. For twenty rupees will I sell it, or, in truth, give it away, rather than that the Heaven-born should be disappointed." "Fifteen," was all Ted's answer; and once more the bangle changed hands, and the ensign left the shop. On the way to cantonments they overtook Harry Tynan, the object of their mutual dislike, and were about to pass with a nod as devoid of cordiality as decency would permit, when Tynan spoke, or rather sneered: "Why, Russell, I thought you always took a girl to protect you whenever you went into the _bazar_!" "Did you really now?" asked Ted banteringly. "Wasn't it an effort?" "What do you mean? Was what an effort?" "To think--so unusual, you know, for you." "Oh how clever you are! But how aren't you keeping an eye on Brother Jim's future wife, according to instructions? I saw her this evening flirting as usual with the Commissioner Sahib. You are not doing your duty. Captain Russell 'ud be angry if he knew." "Come along, Russell; what's the use of talking to that cad?" whispered Paterson. "Contemptible toad!" But his friend's ire had been aroused by the last remark. He halted and faced Tynan. "What d'you mean?" he demanded. Tynan slowly drew a huge cheerot from his lips and attempted to blow rings of smoke before replying. "You know well enough. Stunnin' little flirt is Ethel--deuced stunnin'! Shouldn't be surprised if she threw Brother Jim over!" "What do you mean?" repeated Ted with still greater heat. "Don't be an ass, Ted. Leave the cad alone," Paterson again whispered. Tynan was Russell's senior by nearly a couple of years, and he stood a clear three inches taller. Ted's anger amused him. "Why--don't you know?" he innocently enquired. "You see, our little Ethel had been setting her cap at Sir Arthur Fletcher for months before she saw your brother. But Arthur knows what's what, and the little darling has had to put up with a mere captain of the Guides. But she still hankers after the commissioner, and sighs for the handle to her name." "Ye leein' hyæna!" Paterson burst out, his native dialect rising to the surface in his excitement. "Keep a ceevil tongue in your heid, or I'll knock ye down!"