‘Nitrate of strontia,’ he shouted; ’baryta, bone-meal, etcetera!  Thousand cubic feet smoke per cubic inch.  Not a germ could live—­not a germ, Y’ Excellency!’

But His Excellency had fled, and was coughing at the foot of the stairs, while all Peterhoff hummed like a hive.  Red Lancers came in, and the head Chaprassi who speaks English came in, and mace-bearers came in, and ladies ran downstairs screaming, ‘Fire’; for the smoke was drifting through the house and oozing out of the windows, and bellying along the verandahs, and wreathing and writhing across the gardens.  No one could enter the room where Mellish was lecturing on his Fumigatory till that unspeakable powder had burned itself out.

Then an Aide-de-Camp, who desired the V.C., rushed through the rolling clouds and hauled Mellish into the hall.  The Viceroy was prostrate with laughter, and could only waggle his hands feebly at Mellish, who was shaking a fresh bagful of powder at him.

‘Glorious!  Glorious!’ sobbed His Excellency.  ’Not a germ, as you justly observe, could exist!  I can swear it.  A magnificent success!’

Then he laughed till the tears came, and Wonder, who had caught the real Mellishe snorting on the Mall, entered and was deeply shocked at the scene.  But the Viceroy was delighted, because he saw that Wonder would presently depart.  Mellish with the Fumigatory was also pleased, for he felt that he had smashed the Simla Medical ‘Ring.’

Few men could tell a story like His Excellency when he took the trouble, and his account of ’my dear, good Wonder’s friend with the powder’ went the round of Simla, and flippant folk made Wonder unhappy by their remarks.

But His Excellency told the tale once too often—­for Wonder.  As he meant to do.  It was at a Seepee Picnic.  Wonder was sitting just behind the Viceroy.

‘And I really thought for a moment,’ wound up His Excellency, ’that my dear, good Wonder had hired an assassin to clear his way to the throne!’

Every one laughed; but there was a delicate sub-tinkle in the Viceroy’s tone which Wonder understood.  He found that his health was giving way; and the Viceroy allowed him to go, and presented him with a flaming ‘character’ for use at Home among big people.

‘My fault entirely,’ said His Excellency, in after seasons, with a twinkle in his eye.  ’My inconsistency must always have been distasteful to such a masterly man.’

‘TIGER-TIGER!’

        What of the hunting, hunter bold?
          Brother, the watch was long and cold. 
        What of the quarry ye went to kill?
          Brother, he crops in the jungle still. 
        Where is the power that made your pride?
          Brother, it ebbs from my flank and side. 
        Where is the haste that ye hurry by?
          Brother, I go to my lair to die.