He shook off the nightmare feeling, rating himself for a coward.  Yet he knew it was not fantastical, not even improbable; though most of the people around him, till they saw with their own eyes, and heard with their own ears, would not believe....

But thoughts so unsettling were out of place, in the midst of a Gymkhana with the grand climax imminent.  So—­having washed the dust out of his throat—­he sauntered across to the other tent to snatch a few words with Miss Arden and secure his rose.  It had been given to one of the ‘kits,’ who would put it in water and produce it on demand.  For the affair of the favours was to be a private affair.  Miss Arden, however, in choosing a Marechal Niel, tacitly avowed him her knight.  Lance would know.  All their set would know.  He supposed she realised that.  She was not an accidental kind of person.  And she had a natural gift for flattery of the delicate, indirect order.

No easy matter to get near her again, once you left her side.  As usual, she was surrounded by men; easily the Queen of Beauty and of Love.  In honour of that high compliment, she wore her loveliest race gown; soft shades of blue and green skilfully blended; and a close-fitting hat bewitchingly framed her face.  Nearing the tent, Roy felt a sudden twinge of apprehension.  Where were they drifting to—­he and she?  Was he prepared to bid her good-bye in a week or ten days, and possibly not set eyes on her again?  Would she let him go without a pang, and start afresh with some chance-met fellow in Simla?  The idea was detestable; and yet...?

Half irritably he dismissed the intrusive thought.  The glamour of her so dazzled him that he could see nothing else clearly.

Perhaps that was why he failed to escape Mrs Hunter-Ranyard, who skilfully annexed him in passing, and rained compliments on his embarrassed head.  Fine horsemanship was common enough in India; but anything more superb——!  Wide blue eyes and extravagant gesture expressively filled the blank.

“My heart was in my mouth!  That handkerchief trick is so thrilling.  You all looked as if you must have your brains knocked out the next moment——­”

“And if we had, I suppose the thrill would have gone one better!” Roy wickedly suggested.  He was annoyed at being delayed.

“You deserve ‘yes’ to that!  But if I said what I really thought, your head would be turned.  And it’s quite sufficiently turned already!” She beamed on him with arch significance, enjoying his impatience without a tinge of malice.  There was little of it in her; and the little there was, she reserved for her own sex.

“I suppose it’s a dead secret ... whose favour you are going to wear?”

“That’s the ruling,” said Roy; but he felt his blood tingling, and hoped to goodness it didn’t show through.

“Well, I’ve got big bets on about guessing right; and the biggest bet’s on yours!  Major Desmond’s a good second.”