Chapter 2 Summary

Ellenborough cannot explain the coincidence of Ignatieff showing up. Flashy wonders if his secret mission is compromised. Ellenborough insists that Flashy remain at Balmoral and do nothing to embarrass the Queen. Before going to court, Flashy warns Elspeth to say nothing about his mission. Flashy greets Ignatieff as an old "comrade-in-arms," and tells stories of his imprisonment. When alone, Flashy bates the poker-faced Ignatieff.

On his last full day at Balmoral, Flashy is paired with Ignatieff on a stag hunting trip. Ignatieff congratulates Flashy on his assignment to India and claims to have learned of it from Elspeth. Shaken, Flashy and his ghillie (guide) plunge into the woods away from Ignatieff and his burly carrier, who might arrange an "accident." After a hard climb, they stop at dusk and the ghillie turns green with belly pain. Certain that the Russians have poisoned him...