"You really think that?" Stafford demanded significantly. "Knowing what you know, you think we have no cause to fear him?" Travers changed color. The uneasy flicker in his eyes returned. "What on earth do you mean?" "You know very well. You know whom we shall be fighting against." "Of course--a headlong, inexperienced Hindu prince--" "You are choosing to have a very short memory. Nehal Singh is more than that." Travers stood upright. The healthy glow had died out of his cheeks. "Look here, Stafford," he said roughly, "what is it you want? I can see you want something." "Yes. Give me back my promise. I can not keep it any longer." "Do you think I extort promises that I don't want kept? Are you in earnest?" "Yes, terribly in earnest. Look the thing in the face, Travers. Our lives, and, what is far more, the lives of our women and Heaven knows how many of our countrymen, hang in the balance. If you don't believe me, ask Nicholson." "I shall believe what I like!" Travers began to pace backward and forward, his mind busy with lightning calculations. Before nightfall they would be out of Marut. Stafford was exaggerating the danger, perhaps for his own purposes. The whole thing was nonsense. "I keep you to your promise," he said obstinately. Stafford lifted his head. The man's natural reserve and conventionalism were borne down by the sense of his helplessness. He was fighting against a giant of egoism, as it seemed to him, of gross and criminal stupidity, for the lives of untold hundreds. "You can not realize what you are doing," he said. "It is our one hope of holding the Rajah's hand, and with every moment the danger is increasing. As I came along the road I passed crowds of natives on the way to the palace. Most of them were men from your mine, Travers, and they had an ugly look. They did not touch me, it is true, but I believe they are only waiting for Nehal Singh's order, and then it will be too late. Travers, we must do everything in our power to prevent him giving that order. I have promised Colonel Carmichael to do what I could. At twelve I must be back, or--" Travers swung around. His face was livid. "You told him--?" "No, but I must. I can not keep my promise. You must set me free. I gave it you because you told me that I was not concerned. Now I am concerned, I dare not keep silence." "My dear fellow, you must--that is, if you are a man of honor." "Of what use is the secret to you?" "That is my affair. There was a time when you were anxious enough to keep it." "It was for Lois' sake. The two things were bound up together. She can not be spared any longer."