“The Wisharts took the place, you know, Mrs. Logan, so we saw a lot of them.  The girl was delightful, good sportswoman and all that sort of thing, and capital company.  I wonder she never told us about you.  She knew we were coming out here, for I told her, and she was very interested.”

“Yes, it’s odd, for I suppose she had read Mr. Haystoun’s book, where my husband comes in a good deal.  I shall tell her about seeing you in my next letter.  And now tell me your plans.”

Lewis’s face had begun to burn in a most compromising way.  Those last days in Glenavelin had risen again before the eye of his mind and old wounds were reopened.  The thought that Alice was not yet wholly out of his life, that the new world was not utterly severed from the old, affected him with a miserable delight.  Mrs. Logan became invested with an extraordinary interest.  He pulled himself together to answer her question.

“Oh, our errand is much the same as last time.  We want to get all the sport we can, and if possible to cross the mountains into Turkestan.  I am rather keen on geographical work just now, and there’s a bit of land up here which wants exploring.”

The lady laughed.  “That sounds like poor dear Mr. Gribton.  I suppose you remember him?  He left here in the summer, but when he lived in Bardur he had got that northern frontier-line on the brain.  He was a horrible bore, for he would always work the conversation round to it sooner or later.  I think it was really Mr. Gribton who made people often lose interest in these questions.  They had to assume an indolent attitude in pure opposition to his fussiness.”

“When will your husband be home?” Lewis asked.

“In two days, or possibly three.  I am so sorry about it.  I’ll wire at once, but it’s a slow journey, especially if he is bringing ponies.  Of course you want to see him before you start.  It’s such a pity, but Bardur is fearfully empty of men just now.  Captain Thwaite has gone off after ibex, and though I think he will be back to-morrow, I am afraid he will be too late for my dance.  Oh, really, this is lucky.  I had forgotten all about it.  Of course you two will come.  That will make two more men, and we shall be quite a respectable party.  We are having a dance to-morrow night, and as the English people here are so few and uncertain in their movements we can’t afford to miss a chance.  You must come.  I’ve got the Thwaites and the Beresfords and the Waltons, and some of the garrison people who are down on leave.  Oh, and there’s a man coming whom you must know.  A Mr. Marker, a most delightful person.  I don’t think you met him before, but you must have heard my husband talk about him.  He is the very man for your purpose.  Gilbert says he knows the hills better than any of the Hunza tribesmen, and that he is the best sportsman he ever met.  Besides, he is such an interesting person, very much a man of the world, you know, who has been everywhere and knows everybody.”