"Why?"
"He was under suspicion yesterday--I was told so. Next he
disappeared. Then I received a message from him asking me to assign
him to special duty; that was after I'd more than half believed him
burned to death in a place called the 'House-of-the-Eight-Half-
brothers.' He has sent some most extraordinary messages to his
squadron by the hand of a mysterious babu, but not a word of
explanation of any kind. Can you tell me anything about him, sir?"
"Wasn't a trooper of yours murdered yesterday?" the general asked.
"Yes," said Kirby.
"And another missing?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did Ranjoor Singh go off to search for the missing man?"
"I was told so."
"H-rrrr-ump! Well, I'm glad you came; you've saved me trouble! Did
you put Ranjoor Singh in Orders as assigned to special duty?"
"Yes."
"What is the missing trooper's name?"
"Jagut Singh."
"Well, please enter him in Orders, too."
"Special service?"
"Special service," said the general. "How about Ranjoor Singh's
charger?"
"I understand that he's been kept well groomed by Ranjoor Singh's
orders, and my adjutant tells me he has the horse in care in his own
stable."
The general made a note.
"Whose stable?" lie asked.
"Warrington's."
"Warrington, of Outram's Own, eh? Captain Warrington?"
The general wrote that down, while Kirby watched him bewildered.
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