She could crush me! I must serve My Lady Disdain, and I will fight and die in her army!" Arriving at Delhi, Major Alan Hawke's first visit was to Ram Lal Singh, as he prepared to "report forthwith," in "full rig," to the local Commander.

There was a strange preoccupation in the old jeweler which baffled Hawke.

Ram Lal only humbly begged to have all his lengthened accounts with Madame Berthe Louison arranged, and Alan Hawke, with a few words, calmed the Mussulman's fears.
"I'll have it all attended to, to-morrow, when I look it over," said the Major, hastening away to the Club.

"Ram has been at the hashish, or bhang, or the betel nut, or some of his recondite dissipations--perhaps he has enjoyed an opium bout in the Zenana," mused the new appointee, as he gayly "begged off" from a cloud of eager congratulations by promising to "blow off" the whole Delhi Club.

"Business first, pleasure afterwards" said the resplendent Major Hawke, as he clattered away, a handsome son of Mars, to report to General Willoughby.
Major Hawke was secretly delighted with his cordial reception.