“Runcorn may as well know all about it. A sapper will be useful in deciding what it’s possible to do in the time. Happily he and the canal people have kept the wall overlooking the water in tolerable repair. As for the other sides, we must clear away the rubbish from the foot of the walls, and build up the parapets where the bricks have weathered away. The bushes must go, naturally, and the ramparts be made a fairly safe promenade--for the ladies, of course. The tower stairs are awfully dangerous, and it will be quite natural to have them seen to, and the floors and loopholes may as well be looked after while we are about it, though we shall never get a satisfactory flanking fire without rebuilding the whole thing. I shall take it upon myself to present the place with a new gate--not obtrusively martial in appearance, but with a certain reserve strength about it. My wife will think me a terrible Vandal for spoiling the beautiful ruin her father left behind him, but it’s obvious that the _chaukidar_ will be able to look after the place better when there’s a gate to shut.” “I should say there won’t be much ruin left when you have done with it,” said Colonel Graham. “It’s a mere coincidence that our largest godown turns out to be in the way of the canal extension works, and has been condemned. There would be no harm in storing the corn and a few other little trifles in the vaults under the club-house, and it would give us an excuse for posting a sentry here at night.” “Good,” said Dick, in his turn. “What accomplished deceivers we shall be by the time this is over, if we live to see it!” “You think things are in a bad way?” “What do you think yourself?” “I? I have no opinion. You have been on this frontier much longer than I have, and you are in political charge. I’ve seen enough to know that there’s something queer going on, that’s all.” “I’ll tell you one thing that’s going on. Five times in the last fortnight I have received secret information of tribal gatherings which were to be held without my knowledge. Of course I made a point of turning up, and behaving just as if I had received an invitation in due form.” “Well, that was all right, so far.” “Yes, but think of the _jirgahs_ that I did not hear of. What went on at them?” “I see; it looks bad. What do you propose doing?” “What ought to be done is to revive the martial law proclamation, which has been in abeyance for the last four years. But I am not supreme here just now.” “Surely the Commissioner would not interfere with the exercise of your authority?”