“What!” exclaimed Sophy.  “Oh, Douglas, surely you don’t mean that he was in it?”

“In it—­I should think so.  Up to his neck!”

“Oh, but are you certain?”

“Quite certain!  This will explain his many mysterious journeys, the gangs of natives who were always hanging round his office, and his suspicious opulence.  You may have noticed that he had no friends among the better class of Rangooner; whether British or German; they all suspected him of dirty hands.  He had no conscience and was absolutely unscrupulous.  It was a strange Nemesis that his wife—­to whom you say he was devoted—­should kill herself with the very drug he was smuggling.”

“Yes, poor Aunt Flora,” murmured Sophy; “that is a dreadful tale, which I shall always keep from mother.  I think if she were to know it, it would nearly break her heart.”

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE BOMBSHELL

In spite of the claims of his own affairs, Shafto did not immediately resign his post at Gregory’s, for it happened to be an unusually busy season; there was a heavy paddy crop and, owing to fever, the staff were short-handed; therefore, for the present he decided to stick to the ship, especially as Sophy was, so to speak, on board.

Mrs. Gregory and Sophy were returning to England at the end of August; naturally he booked his passage for the same date, and it was a happy coincidence that he and his fiancee were once more to be shipmates on the Blankshire.  Meanwhile they were enjoying the time of their lives; the rides or strolls in the grounds or in Dalhousie Park, and dances at the Club, were delightful, and their world was sympathetic and smiled upon the engagement.

Mrs. Gregory loved a wedding.  Her rooms, appointments and well-drilled staff readily lent themselves to such festivals, and why, she asked, should Sophy not be married from the “Barn,” take a trip up the river for her honeymoon, in order to see something of the real country, and buy her trousseau after her arrival in London?

Fired with this project, both she and Shafto dispatched long and plausible letters to Mrs. Leigh; but Mrs. Leigh declined to entertain the idea and, in equally long and eloquent effusions, set forth the fact that she had seen nothing of her youngest daughter for nearly two years and claimed a share of her company ere she was carried away to another home.  She had, however, given a cordial assent to Sophy’s engagement, and declared that she would gladly accept Douglas Shafto as a son, but Sophy must be married from home and in the old church at Chelsea.

As Mrs. Gregory returned this letter, she said: