"Yes. I can think of no other explanation of the mystery now than that Frank meant to surprise you with it. You may be sure he obtained it honorably, so you will only be meeting his wishes by wearing it. At any rate it will be safer in your possession than in that cupboard." "Perhaps you are right," said she. And while she clasped the diamond-studded brooch in front of her white throat she glanced round the room for a mirror. Her uncle smiled. He was glad that this little cloud had lifted off Winifred's sky. The sufferings and positive dangers of the siege were bad enough already without being added to by a private grief. He stooped to pick up the turban and his eye fell on the regimental device of the metal badge. "This is not an officer's head-dress," he cried. "And Malcolm belongs to the 3d Cavalry, whereas this badge was worn by a trooper in the 2d." Winifred, who was turning her neck and shoulders this way and that to get different angles of light, stopped admiring herself and ran to his side. "That is the turban Frank wore during our ride from Cawnpore," she whispered breathlessly. "It may be. But don't you remember that he was bareheaded when we met him in Nana Sahib's garden? I was knocked almost insensible during the fight for the boat so I am not sure what happened during the next few minutes. Nevertheless, I can recall that prior fact beyond cavil. If it were not for the safe-conduct you found at the same time as the pearls, I would incline strongly to the belief that Frank obtained this turban by accident, and is wholly ignorant of its extraordinary contents." "I must write at once and tell him how sorry I am that I misjudged him." "You dear little goose," cried her uncle amusedly, "Frank will begin to wonder then what the judging was about. No. Wait until you meet. Write, by all means, but leave problems for settlement during your first tête-a-tête." So Ungud carried in his turban a loving and sympathetic note, which Winifred, with no small pride, addressed to "Major Frank Malcolm, Headquarters Staff, British Field Force, Cawnpore," and she said inside, among other things, that she hoped this would prove to be the first letter he received with the inscription of his new rank. Ungud also took confidential details from the Brigadier for Havelock's information, and in three days, being as supple as an eel and cautious as a leopard, he was back again with a reply from the general to the effect that the relieving force would arrive in less than a week. He brought another missive from Frank, cheery and optimistic in tone and still blithely oblivious of the existence of such baubles as hundred-thousand-dollar necklaces. And that was all the news that either the garrison or Winifred received for more than a month, when the intrepid Ungud again entered the lines to bring Havelock's ominous advice: "Do not negotiate, but rather perish sword in hand."