Tarleton was somewhat subdued since his return, and whereas Haslam was rather fond of expatiating upon their adventures, the Civil Surgeon was more inclined to shelve the subject when it was broached. It wasn't a thing to _bukh_ about, he declared, nor could he understand how that fellow Haslam could _bukh_ about nothing else. They had neither of them cut so great a figure in it for the matter of that, and he for his part didn't seem to care if he never heard it mentioned again. Inwardly he was relieved that so far no harm had come to Raynier through the disclosure wrung from him by Murad Afzul. "Just fancy, dear," Mrs Tarleton exclaimed, when she had fussed over Hilda enough by way of welcome back. "Who do you think has arrived, just as poor Mr Raynier is away too? Isn't it sad?--and he not here to welcome her?" "To welcome whom?" said Hilda, tranquilly. "Why, his _fiancee_, of course." "I didn't know he'd got one." "No more did we, no more did any of us," rejoined Mrs Tarleton, glancing curiously at the girl, yet feeling intensely relieved at the nonchalance of her reply, for she too had noticed, in common with Haslam, how Raynier and her guest had been getting, as the Forest Officer put it, uncommonly thick together. "He was remarkably close on the subject, I must say." "Well, he naturally would be. That trick of gushing on the subject and running about showing the latest photograph and all that, is idiotic, and I can't imagine Mr Raynier being idiotic. Who is she?" "A Miss Daintree. Rather a stylish-looking girl, handsome too. She's staying with the Croftons." "Yes? Well, they'll have a happy reunion and live happy ever after." Mrs Tarleton felt more relieved than ever. The light laughing badinage of the girl's tone could never have been assumed, she decided. There was nothing between them, then. But Hilda Clive was putting two and two together. She remembered Raynier's absence of mind and unwonted depression the day they had set forth on their ride which had ended so tragically. This, then, was the news which had disconcerted him. The impending arrival of the girl to whom he was engaged gave him no pleasure--rather the reverse--and if so, why? The puzzle was no difficult one to piece together; indeed, to her perceptions, it constituted no puzzle at all. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. AT MAZARAN. Cynthia Daintree had heard of Raynier's transfer immediately on landing, and had lost no time in proceeding to Mazaran, which move was facilitated by the fact that the friends with whom she had come out had relatives in the frontier station, to whom they duly passed her on, and with whom she was now staying.