When the Youghals came into the station, Strickland--very gravely,
as he did everything--fell in love with Miss Youghal; and she,
after a while, fell in love with him because she could not
understand him. Then Strickland told the parents; but Mrs. Youghal
said she was not going to throw her daughter into the worst paid
Department in the Empire, and old Youghal said, in so many words,
that he mistrusted Strickland's ways and works, and would thank him
not to speak or write to his daughter any more. "Very well," said
Strickland, for he did not wish to make his lady-love's life a
burden. After one long talk with Miss Youghal he dropped the
business entirely.

The Youghals went up to Simla in April.

In July, Strickland secured three months' leave on "urgent private
affairs." He locked up his house--though not a native in the
Providence would wittingly have touched "Estreekin Sahib's" gear
for the world--and went down to see a friend of his, an old dyer,
at Tarn Taran.

Here all trace of him was lost, until a sais met me on the Simla
Mall with this extraordinary note:


"Dear old man,

Please give bearer a box of cheroots--Supers, No. I, for
preference. They are freshest at the Club. I'll repay when I
reappear; but at present I'm out of Society.