An hour! Lesley's heart sank after the first ten minutes. They seemed interminable to her, seated on the ledgers behind the table. She could just see Jack Raymond at the other end of it, his head down on his crossed arms. Was he dozing? As likely as not; he was just that sort; while her nerves were quivering. The action had been well enough; the excitement of that had carried her with it; but now----? What if Mr. Raymond's estimate of the danger had been excessive? He had once, long ago, fired on a mob in too great haste. At least Government had thought so. What had possessed her, in a moment, to trust his judgment absolutely--to cast in her lot with his, as it were, unreservedly? She blushed even in the darkness, that was fast obscuring all things, at the thought---- 'You had better light the lamp, _baboo_. There is one, isn't there? by your desk,' came his voice calmly. Then he was not asleep! 'And he was very kind. But if they were found out? If they asked her why she had done this thing, what would she answer? What _could_ she say to Grace Arbuthnot, who had been wiser; even though she had loved---- The lamp flared up under the _baboo's_ trembling fingers and showed her face. 'You poor child!' came his voice again, 'I'm bitterly sorry; but it can't be long now; and--and let's hope for that good dinner!' She was glad of the jesting finish, glad that the lamp went out this time under those trembling fingers. When it flared up again she was ready to be more cheerful. And it was an easier task after that, for the deadly quiet passed and the thrill came into life again, making her forget the question--What if they should be found out?--in the possibility of being found out all too soon. For some one tried the handle of the door hurriedly, called loudly on Mohun Ditta to come out and report; then after a time departed with curses. 'You had better open the shutter, _baboo_,' said Jack Raymond; 'and go on, not exactly as if I wasn't here--that mightn't be safe under the circumstances--but as if you were thinking of your pension.' 'Yes, sir,' bleated the _baboo_, 'I will do best endeavours to please.' So silence fell again, to be broken by another step outside; clearly an English step, making the listener at the table look up as the steps died away. 'Here, _baboo_! send this off quick!' came an English voice; and Jack Raymond had hard work not to look round. But the wire was only to lay odds on a race in Calcutta; and even the strain of listening for each unknown letter did not come to Lesley, for the _baboo_ showed the adaptability of his kind, by reading out the words loudly and saying, 'Is that right, sir?' to the sender. 'I hope so, _baboo_!' said the English boy with a laugh, 'or I shall be stony broke!' So the steps died away once more.