Mrs. Dermot smiled; and the dimples that came with the smile carried his mind back for an instant to Violet.

“Yes, they are my chicks,” she said.  “I left them in Badshah’s charge.”

Frank was not altogether reassured.  The young mother evidently did not know what was happening.

“But—­pardon me—­is it quite safe?  I was a bit scared when I saw them.  The animal was tossing them up in the air.”

“You needn’t be alarmed, Mr. Wargrave—­though it’s very good of you to be concerned and come to tell me,” she replied.  “But Badshah—­that’s the elephant’s name—­is a most careful nurse and I know that my babies are quite safe when they are in his care.  He has looked after them since they were able to crawl.  Come and be introduced to him.  I must tell you that he is a very exceptional animal.  Indeed, we almost forget that he is an animal.  He has saved our lives, my husband’s and mine, on more than one occasion.  Next to the children and me I think that Kevin loves him better than anyone or anything else in the world.  And after my chicks and Kevin and my brother I believe I do, too.  As for the babies, I’m not sure that he doesn’t come first with them.”

She led the way round the house, and in spite of her assurances Wargrave felt a little nervous when they came in sight of the strange nurse and its charges.  The tiny girl was seated on the ground tightly clasping one huge foreleg; while the boy was beating the other with his little fists, crying: 

“Mujk-ko uth!  Pir!  Pir! (Lift me up!  Again!  Again!)”

When he saw his mother he ran to her and said: 

“Mummie, bad, naughty Badshah won’t lift me up.”

He suddenly caught sight of the stranger and paused shyly.

“Brian darling, this is a new friend,” said his mother, bending down to him.  “Won’t you shake hands with him?”

The child conquered his shyness with an effort and walked over to Frank, holding out his little hand.

“How do you do?” he said politely.

The subaltern gravely shook the proffered hand.  The little girl scrambled to her fat little legs and finger in mouth, surveyed him solemnly.  Then satisfied with her inspection she toddled forward to him and said: 

“Tiss me.”

Frank laughed joyously.

“With all my heart, you darling,” he cried.

This delightful welcome in the dreaded place of exile was inexpressibly cheering.  He swung the dainty mite up in his arms and kissed her.  She put her arms around his neck and hugged him.

“Me like ’oo,” she said.

“You little flirt, Eileen,” exclaimed her mother laughing.  “Now it’s Badshah’s turn.”

She walked to the elephant, a splendid specimen of its race, though it had only one tusk, the right.  She held out her hand to it.  The long trunk shot out, brushed her fingers and then her cheek with a light touch that was almost a caress.  She stroked the trunk affectionately.