“The conditions are, certainly, very complicated.”

“So complicated, indeed, that for many years past we have had differences with the English touching the frontier question.  Our British friends have over and over again forced the Ameer of Afghanistan to send troops thither; an English expedition for the purpose of frontier delimitation has been frequently camped on the Pamir Mountains.  Of course, in this respect, we have not been behindhand either.  I myself have before now taken part in such a scientific expedition.”

“And it really was merely a scientific expedition?”

“Let us call it a military scientific excursion!” replied the Prince, smiling.  “We had 2,000 Cossacks with us, and got as far as the Hindu-Kush—­the Baragil Pass and another, unnamed, which we called, in honour of our colonel, the Yonov Pass.  There we were confronted by Afghan troops, and defeated them at Somatash.  By order of the English, who were paying him subsidies, Ameer Abdur-Rahman was obliged to resent this and petition their assistance.  An English envoy arrived in Cabul, and negotiations were entered into, which we contrived to spin out sufficiently to gain time for the erection of small forts in the Pamirs.  Finally an arrangement was arrived at in London to the effect that the Pench should be the boundary between Russia and Afghanistan in the Pamir territory.  A few months later we were met by an English expedition on the Sarykul; we were to determine the exact boundary-line together.  It was great fun; our English comrades tried hard not to let us see that they had orders to be complacent.  We had soon discovered it, and drew the line just as we pleased.  The upshot was that only a very narrow strip of land between Bukhara and the Indian border remained to the Ameer, and that he had to undertake neither to station troops there nor to erect fortifications.  Our territory had been pushed forward up to within about twelve miles of English territory.  It is there that we are closest to India, and we can, if we choose, at any time descend from the passes of the Hindu-Kush to the Chitral Valley, within the British sphere of influence.”

A servant, bringing an invitation to Heideck from Mrs. Baird to dine with them that evening, interrupted the conversation.  The Captain was scarcely able to disguise his pleasure; he had no doubt that this invitation was due to Edith, and was happy in the prospect of seeing her again.

“You are on good terms with the Colonel,” said the Prince, as soon as the servant had left with Heideck’s letter of acceptance.  “This can be of the greatest assistance to you under present circumstances.  Do make him give you a passport and come with me.”

“I am sorry, Prince!  I should be delighted to travel in such pleasant company, but business keeps me here a little longer for the present.”

“Well—­as you please—­I must not try to over-persuade you; but I will not abandon the hope that we shall meet again, and it is unnecessary to assure you that you can count upon me in any situation in which you may find yourself.”