Steadily Max drew him on.  “When I wrote you that letter in the autumn, I meant you to do exactly what you have done.  I didn’t of course anticipate playing such a heathen trick on you as cutting you out.  I regarded myself at that time as out of the running.  Circumstances which there is no need to discuss had set dead against me, and I had reason to believe that she might need an able-bodied man’s protection.  Nick is all very well as a moral force, but physically he is a negligible quantity.  I didn’t fancy the idea of her coming out here with the chance of the aforementioned danger cropping up.”

“What danger?” said Noel, abruptly.

Max hesitated a moment.  “It’s rather a long story.  There was another fellow—­a great hulking bounder.  I was half afraid he might follow her out here and make himself objectionable.  I thought you would probably get friendly with her, and she might turn to you for help if she needed it.  You’re the sort of chap a woman would turn to.  And anyhow, I know you’re sound fundamentally.”

“Do you?” murmured Noel.

Max went on.  “At that time I never thought of coming out here myself.  It was Nick who first suggested it at a time when I believed my chances to be nil.  And gradually the idea took hold of me.  We had been almost engaged before.  And though I didn’t believe in my luck any longer, I thought I would have one last shot.  Kersley backed me as usual.  I am to go into partnership with him when I get back.  He urged me to come, even said I owed it to her.  I wasn’t so sure of that myself, but events have proved him justified.  I thought in any case I should only hurt myself and that wouldn’t matter much.  Afraid I behaved like a selfish ass.  But I didn’t know how far matters had gone, or even if they were likely to move at all.  She isn’t the sort of girl that attracts at first sight.  It never occurred to me to be attracted till I found out how badly she disliked me.  Then I used to bait her, and I liked her spirit.  After that—­” an odd, tender note had crept into his voice; he stopped abruptly.

Noel set his teeth and tramped along in dogged silence.

For a few seconds Max followed his example; then took up his discourse at the final point.  “So I chanced a final throw and came out here; I thought at the worst she could only send me away again, and I should be no more badly off than I was before.  Well, I got here, and the first thing.  I heard was that Nick was giving a picnic at Khantali, and that there was a man-eater there.  My informant was a native groom at the inn.  He seemed to believe in the man-eater, and as I had equipped myself with a Winchester with the idea of solacing myself with big game when I had been given my conge, I armed myself and went to have a look for him.  You know the rest.  I must admit I was nearly as staggered as she was when I saw her come out of the temple.  As soon as I had a moment for thought, it occurred to me that I should be probably one too many if I presented myself then.  It was your chance, not mine; so I decided with your connivance to lie low.  This evening I called to see the result.  I fully expected to be told that you and she were engaged, and I went prepared to congratulate.  But directly I saw her, I knew that it was otherwise.  And I realized that my luck had turned.”