“There’s someone behind that door,” he said to himself, and he glanced quietly at Shere Ali.  It would be quite in keeping with the Chilti character for Shere Ali politely to escort him home knowing well that an assassin waited behind the door; and it was with a smile of some irony that he listened to Shere Ali taking his leave.

“You will be safe, so long as you stay within your grounds.  I will place a guard about the house.  I do not make war against my country’s guests.  And in a few days I will send an escort and set you and your attendants free from hurt beyond our borders.  But”—­and his voice lost its courtesy—­“take care you admit no one, and give shelter to no one.”

The menace of Shere Ali’s tone roused Captain Phillips.  “I take no orders from your Highness,” he said firmly.  “Your Highness may not have noticed that,” and he pointed upwards to where on a high flagstaff in front of the house the English flag hung against the pole.

“I give your Excellency no orders,” replied Shere Ali.  “But on the other hand I give you a warning.  Shelter so much as one man and that flag will not save you.  I should not be able to hold in my men.”

Shere Ali turned and rode back to the gates.  Captain Phillips dismounted, and calling forward a reluctant groom, gave him his horse.  Then he suddenly flung back the door.  But there was no resistance.  The door swung in and clattered against the wall.  Phillips looked into the hall, but the dusk was gathering in the garden.  He looked into a place of twilight and shadows.  He grasped his riding-crop a little more firmly in his hand and strode through the doorway.  In a dark corner something moved.

“Ah! would you!” cried Captain Phillips, turning sharply on the instant.  He raised his crop above his head and then a crouching figure fell at his feet and embraced his knees; and a trembling voice of fear cried: 

“Save me!  Your Excellency will not give me up!  I have been a good friend to the English!”

For the second time the Khan of Chiltistan had sought refuge from his own people.  Captain Phillips looked round.

“Hush,” he whispered in a startled voice.  “Let me shut the door!”

CHAPTER XXXIII

IN THE RESIDENCY

Captain Phillips with a sharp gesture ordered the Khan back to the shadowy corner from which he had sprung out.  Then he shut the door and, with the shutting of the door, the darkness deepened suddenly in the hall.  He shot the bolt and put up the chain.  It rattled in his ears with a startling loudness.  Then he stood without speech or movement.  Outside he heard Shere Ali’s voice ring clear, and the army of tribesmen clattered past towards the town.  The rattle of their weapons, the hum of their voices diminished.  Captain Phillips took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead.  He had the sensations of a man reprieved.