At the mention of Shere Ali's name the official sat up and asked for more.
"He looked pretty bad," said Colonel Dewes.

"Jumpy and feverish, and with the air of a man who has been sitting up all night for a week or two.

But this is what interested me most," and Dewes told how the lad had implored him to bring Linforth out to India.
"Who's Linforth ?" asked the official quickly.

"Not the son of that Linforth who--" "Yes, that's the man," said the Colonel testily.

"But you interrupt me.
What interested me was this--when I refused to help, Shere Ali's face changed in a most extraordinary way.