You were ashamed; and I--well, you can guess my
reasons."
"By Jove! You know, you really are plucky!" he burst out, with genuine
admiration.
"Thank you. You have intimated that to me already, and, as a matter of
fact, there is no question of pluck. I'm taking the bull by the horns
because I must. Mr. Travers, I can't live in the same place with you and
not know if you are going to explode the mine under our feet or not. I may
have nerve, but I haven't got nerve enough for that."
"I see. You want to know whether I am going to gossip or hold my tongue.
Is that it?"
"Yes, that's it."
"Suppose I gossip?"
"I see no reason why you should be our enemy, so I don't mind admitting to
you that it would spoil our plans."
"What may they be?"
"Firstly, to get clear of everything that has happened. We've tried to do
that in different places all over Europe, without success. Something or
somebody has always cropped up and driven us away. It was just as though
every one least concerned in the matter had made up their minds to track
us down. At last mother thought of India, and of Marut in particular. My
father held a small post somewhere about here before we left for England,
and we make out that it is tender associations and all that sort of thing.
Of course, we might be found out any day, but perhaps people are not so
curious out here, and it gives us a rest."
"Might I ask why you take all this trouble?"
"I was going to tell you.
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