'They did so in the first cantonment ever marked out, so we are told,' observed Captain W. To this the Colonel made no reply, not relishing even an approach to a joke on so serious and distressing a subject. After a silence of some minutes, during which the Colonel endeavoured to overcome his indignation, though with but partial success, he said: 'Send for the houseman.' 'When shall I tell him to be here?' said Captain W. 'Send an orderly to fetch him here at once,' replied the Colonel. An orderly was accordingly despatched for Veneaty, who in due season arrived, puffing and panting in consequence of the rapid mode of progression insisted on by his military companion. When brought into the presence of the Colonel his nerves seemed to be greatly discomposed, nor did the Colonel's manner and mode of address tend much to reassure him. The first question put to him was: 'Are you the owner of the house now occupied by Mrs. G.?' 'Yes, I am, General Saib.' 'Does she pay her rent regularly?' 'Yes, General Saib.' 'Does she hold a lease of that house?' 'She has taken Captain Turner's lease, General Saib.' 'When did she obtain that lease?' 'Four months ago, General Saib.' 'Four months? Are you sure?' 'Yes, General Saib.' 'It was not after the new rules were ordered, was it?' 'No, General Saib; it was more than three months before they were ordered.' 'Well, you see, W.,' said the Colonel, 'we shall gain nothing by parchment; we must try something else.' 'Veneaty, when you want a tenant to go out, what do you do?' 'If he no pay his rent, I get order to seize his property, then he pay or he go out.' 'But suppose he does pay his rent, and still you want him to go out, what do you do then?' 'I give written warning to go out.' 'Then can't you do that with Mrs. G.?' 'How can do that, General Saib? Mem Saib got lease.' 'Oh, I forgot that,' said the Colonel. 'What the devil am I to do?' 'General Saib not know, how can I tell?' returned Veneaty. After a silence of some minutes, Captain W. said: 'In a case of like nature, or something like, that occurred at Bombay, they unroofed the house, and so got the tenant out. Won't you do that?' 'General Saib give order, I do; but Mem Saib, if she make complaint to High Court at Madras, what I do?' 'Well, Veneaty, you may go now; when I want you again I will send for you.' Then, turning to Captain W., he said: 'Before we act I must write to headquarters, and get instructions from Government. I must ask them to take the opinion of the law officers on this case, then perhaps we shall know what we are about.' So Veneaty departed, making profound salaams as he went out, rejoicing that he had not been required to take active measures against his tenant.