Colonel Carmichael was silent for a moment. Stafford's manner awed and troubled him in spite of himself. "Very well," he said at last. "I give you an hour. During that time we will make preparations for the worst." He took out his watch. "It is now eleven. At twelve the matter passes into Nicholson's hands." Stafford saluted. "I understand, Colonel." Nicholson accompanied him toward the door. "God-speed!" he said simply. Stafford hesitated, his heavy eyes resting on the fine face of his brother-officer with an almost passionate gratitude. "Thank you, Nicholson, thank you. God help me to do what is right!" He turned and hurried from the room. CHAPTER V MURDER Archibald Travers stood in his favorite attitude by the window, his shoulder propped against the casement, his arms folded, a smile of good-natured amusement on his healthy face. "My dear child," he protested, "what earthly interest can it have for you to know the pros and cons of the business? You wouldn't understand, and that small head would ache for a week afterward. Be content with the outline of the thing. Of course it has all been frightfully unfortunate. But the Rajah wasn't to be held back. He believed the mine was going to be the making of Marut--and for a matter of fact so did I at first, otherwise I shouldn't have put all my money in it. The fellow had an enthusiasm and confidence which fairly carried us off our feet. Well, it's done, and it's no use crying about it. The best thing we can do is to clear out of Marut as fast as we can. People are bound to be disagreeable about it." "The Carys are ruined too?" she asked. "Oh, I don't know--they have lost a bit, I suppose." His voice sounded unpleasant. "At any rate, I'll say that for them--they behaved as people of their extraction would behave. First the mother poured out a torrent of abuse over the poor Rajah which would have been the envy of a fish-wife, and then the daughter turned on me." He laughed. "It was a most powerful scene of feminine hysterics. I was glad that you were not there." Lois sat silent, her head resting on her hand, her eyes fixed thoughtfully on the table. "And what are we going to do?" she asked at last. "You take the matter so easily, but if we are really ruined--" He laid his hand affectionately on her shoulder. "_I_ am ruined, Lois. I did not say that you were. Even with your rather low opinion of me, you could hardly have supposed that I would touch your money. You are well enough off to do what you like. As for me--" he squared his shoulders--"I feel quite capable of starting things all over again." His tone touched her. She looked up, and her face softened. There was nothing that could have made her happier than to have discovered in her husband some elements of courage and sincerity. "Of course, Archibald, whatever is mine is yours," she said. "You must have known that."