Isawtheceiling-clothnearlyinthecentreoftheroombagwithashapethatwaspressingitdownwardanddownwardtowardthelightedlampsonthetableIsnatchedalampoutofdangerandstoodbackThentheclothrippedoutfromthewalls，tore，split，swayed，andshotdownuponthetablesomethingthatIdarednotlookattillStricklandhadsliddowntheladderandwasstandingbymyside。
Hedidnotsaymuch，beingamanoffewwords，buthepickedupthelooseendofthetable-clothandthrewitoverthethingonthetable。
“Itstrikesme。”saidhe，pullingdownthelamp，“ourfriendImrayhascomebackOh！youwould，wouldyou？”
Therewasamovementunderthecloth，andalittlesnakewriggle’dout，tobeback-brokenbythebuttofthemasheerrodIwassufficientlysicktomakenoremarksworthrecording。
StricklandmeditatedandhelpedhimselftodrinksliberallyThethingundertheclothmadenomoresignsoflife。
“IsitImray？”Isaid。
Stricklandturnedbacktheclothforamomentandlooked“ItisImray，’1hesaid，“andhisthroatiscutfromeartoear。”
Thenwespokebothtogetherandtoourselves：
“That’swhyhewhisperedaboutthehouse。”
Tietjens，inthegarden，begantobayfuriouslyAlittlelaterhergreatnoseheaveduponthedining-roomdoor。
ShesniffedandwasstillThebrokenandtatteredceiling-clothhungdownalmosttothelevelofthetable，andtherewashardlyroomtomoveawayfromthediscovery。
ThenTietjenscameinandsatdown，herteethbaredandherforepawsplantedShelookedatStrickland。
“It’sbadbusiness，oldlady。”saidhe“Mendon’tgoupintotheroofsoftheirbungalowstodie，andtheydon’tfastenuptheceiling-clothbehind’emLet’sthinkitout。”
“Let’sthinkitoutsomewhereelse。”Isaid。
“Excellentidea！TurnthelampsoutWe’llgetintomyroom。”
IdidnotturnthelampsoutIwentintoStrickland’sroomfirstandallowedhimtomakethedarknessThenhefollowedme，andwelightedtobaccoandthoughtStricklanddidthethinkingIsmokedfuriouslybecauseIwasafraid。
“Imrayisback。”saidStrickland“Thequestionis，whokilledImray？Don’ttalk-IhaveanotionofmyownWhenItookthisbungalowItookmostofImray’sservantsImraywasguile-lessandinoffensive，wasn’the？”
Iagreed，thoughtheheapundertheclothlookedneitheronethingnortheother。
“IfIcalltheservantstheywillstandfastinacrowdandlielikeAryansWhatdoyousuggest？”
“Call’eminonebyone。”Isaid。
“They’llrunawayandgivethenewstoalltheirfellows。”saidStrickland。
“Wemustsegregate’emDoyousupposeyourservantknowsanythingaboutit？”
“Hemay，foraughtIknow，hutIdon’tthinkit’slikelyHehasonlybeenheretwoorthreedays。”
“What’syournotion？”Iasked。
“Ican’tquitetellHowthedickensdidthemangetthewrongsideoftheceiling-cloth？”
TherewasaheavycoughingoutsideStrickland’sbedroomdoor。
ThisshowedthatBahadurKhan，hisbody-servant，hadwakedfromsleepandwishedtoputStricklandtobed。
“Comein。”saidStrickland“Itisaverywarmnight，isn’tit？”
BahadurKhan，agreat，green-turbaned，six-footMohammedan，saidthatitwasaverywarmnight，butthattherewasmorerainpending，which，byhishonor’sfavor，wouldbringrelieftothecountry。
“Itwillbeso，ifGodpleases。”saidStrickland，tuggingoffhishoots“Itisinmymind，BahadurKhan，thatIhaveworkedtheeremorselesslyformanydays-eversincethattimewhenthoufirstcameintomyserviceWhattimewasthat？”
“Hastheheaven-bornforgotten？ItwaswhenImraySahibwentsecretlytoEuropewithoutwarninggiven，andIevenI-cameintothehonoredserviceoftheprotectorofthepoor。”
“AndImraySahibwenttoEurope？”
“Itissosaidamongtheservants。”
“Andthouwilttakeservicewithhimwhenhereturns？”
“Assuredly，sahibHewasagoodmasterandcherishedhisdependents。”
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