Schreiderling’sgenerositystoppedatthehorseHesaidthatanysaddlewoulddoforawomanasnervousasMrsSchreiderling。
　　Sheneverwasaskedtodance，becauseshedidnotdancewell；andshewassodullanduninteresting，thatherboxveryseldomhadanycardsinitSchreiderlingsaidthatifhehadknownthatshewasgoingtobesuchascare-crowafterhermarriage，hewouldneverhavemarriedherHealwayspridedhimselfonspeakinghismind，didSchreiderling！
　　HeleftheratSimlaoneAugust，andwentdowntohisregiment。
　　Thensherevivedalittle，butsheneverrecoveredherlooksI
　　foundoutattheClubthattheOtherManiscomingupsick——verysick——onanoffchanceofrecoveryThefeverandtheheart-valveshadnearlykilledhimSheknewthat，too，andsheknew——whatI
　　hadnointerestinknowing——whenhewascomingupIsupposehewrotetotellherTheyhadnotseeneachothersinceamonthbeforetheweddingAndherecomestheunpleasantpartofthestory。
　　AlatecallkeptmedownattheDovedellHoteltillduskoneeveningMrsSchreidlerlinghadbeenflittingupanddowntheMallalltheafternoonintherainComingupalongtheCart-road，atongapassedme，andmypony，tiredwithstandingsolong，setoffatacanterJustbytheroaddowntotheTongaOfficeMrs。
　　Schreiderling，drippingfromheadtofoot，waswaitingforthetongaIturnedup-hill，asthetongawasnoaffairofmine；andjustthenshebegantoshriekIwentbackatonceandsaw，undertheTongaOfficelamps，MrsSchreiderlingkneelinginthewetroadbythebackseatofthenewly-arrivedtonga，screaminghideously。
　　ThenshefellfacedowninthedirtasIcameup。
　　Sittinginthebackseat，verysquareandfirm，withonehandontheawning-stanchionandthewetpouringoffhishatandmoustache，wastheOtherMan——deadThesixty-mileup-hilljolthadbeentoomuchforhisvalve，IsupposeThetonga-driversaid：——“TheSahibdiedtwostagesoutofSolonTherefore，Itiedhimwitharope，lestheshouldfalloutbytheway，andsocametoSimlaWilltheSahibgivemebukshish？IT。”pointingtotheOtherMan，“shouldhavegivenonerupee。”
　　TheOtherMansatwithagrinonhisface，asifheenjoyedthejokeofhisarrival；andMrsSchreiderling，inthemud，begantogroanTherewasnooneexceptusfourintheofficeanditwasrainingheavilyThefirstthingwastotakeMrsSchreiderlinghome，andthesecondwastopreventhernamefrombeingmixedupwiththeaffairThetonga-driverreceivedfiverupeestofindabazar’rickshawforMrsSchreiderlingHewastotellthetongaBabuafterwardsoftheOtherMan，andtheBabuwastomakesucharrangementsasseemedbest。
　　MrsSchreiderlingwascarriedintotheshedoutoftherain，andforthree-quartersofanhourwetwowaitedforthe’rickshawTheOtherManwasleftexactlyashehadarrivedMrsSchreiderlingwoulddoeverythingbutcry，whichmighthavehelpedherShetriedtoscreamassoonashersensescameback，andthenshebeganprayingfortheOtherMan’ssoulHadshenotbeenashonestastheday，shewouldhaveprayedforherownsoultooIwaitedtohearherdothis，butshedidnotThenItriedtogetsomeofthemudoffherhabitLastly，the’rickshawcame，andIgotheraway——
　　parrtlybyforceItwasaterriblebusinessfrombeginningtoend；butmostofallwhenthe’rickshawhadtosqueezebetweenthewallandthetonga，andshesawbythelamp-lightthatthin，yellowhandgraspingtheawning-stanchion。
　　ShewastakenhomejustaseveryonewasgoingtoadanceatViceregalLodge——“Peterhoff“itwasthen——andthedoctorfoundthatshehadfallenfromherhorse，thatIhadpickedherupatthebackofJakko，andreallydeservedgreatcreditforthepromptmannerinwhichIhadsecuredmedicalaidShedidnotdie——menofSchreiderling’sstampmarrywomenwhodon’tdieeasilyTheyliveandgrowugly。
　　Shenevertoldofheronemeeting，sincehermarriage，withtheOtherMan；and，whenthechillandcoughfollowingtheexposureofthatevening，allowedherabroad，sheneverbywordorsignalludedtohavingmetmebytheTongaOfficePerhapssheneverknew。
　　SheusedtotrotupanddowntheMall，onthatshockingbadsaddle，lookingasifsheexpectedtomeetsomeoneroundthecornereveryminuteTwoyearsafterward，shewentHome，anddied——atBournemouth，Ithink。
　　Schreiderling，whenhegrewmaudlinatMess，usedtotalkabout“mypoordearwife。”Healwayssetgreatstoreonspeakinghismind，didSchreiderling！
　　CONSEQUENCES。
　　RosicruciansubtletiesIntheOrienthadrise；
　　YemayfindtheirteachersstillUnderJacatala’sHill。
　　SeekyeBombastParacelsus，ReadwhatFloodtheSeekertellsusOftheDominantthatrunsThroughthecyclesoftheSuns——
　　ReadmystorylastandseeLunaatherapogee。
　　Thereareyearlyappointments，andtwo-yearlyappointments，andfive-yearlyappointmentsatSimla，andthereare，orusedtobe，permanentappointments，whereonyoustayedupforthetermofyournaturallifeandsecuredredcheeksandaniceincomeOfcourse，youcoulddescendinthecoldweather；forSimlaisratherdullthen。
　　Tarrioncamefromgoodnessknowswhere——allawayandawayinsomeforsakenpartofCentralIndia，wheretheycallPachmaria“Sanitarium。”anddrivebehindtrottingbullocks，IbelieveHebelongedtoaregiment；butwhathereallywantedtodowastoescapefromhisregimentandliveinSimlaforeverandeverHehadnopreferenceforanythinginparticular，beyondagoodhorseandanicepartnerHethoughthecoulddoeverythingwell；whichisabeautifulbeliefwhenyouholditwithallyourheartHewascleverinmanyways，andgoodtolookat，andalwaysmadepeopleroundhimcomfortable——eveninCentralIndia。
　　SohewentuptoSimla，and，becausehewascleverandamusing，hegravitatednaturallytoMrsHauksbee，whocouldforgiveeverythingbutstupidityOncehedidhergreatservicebychangingthedateonaninvitation-cardforabigdancewhichMrsHauksbeewishedtoattend，butcouldn’tbecauseshehadquarrelledwiththeA-D-C。，whotookcare，beingameanman，toinvitehertoasmalldanceonthe6thinsteadofthebigBallofthe26thItwasaverycleverpieceofforgery；andwhenMrsHauksbeeshowedtheA-D-C。
　　herinvitation-card，andchaffedhimmildlyfornotbettermanaginghisvendettas，hereallythoughthehadmadeamistake；and——whichwaswise——realizedthatitwasnousetofightwithMrsHauksbeeShewasgratefultoTarrionandaskedwhatshecoulddoforhimHesaidsimply：“I’maFreelanceuphereonleave，andonthelookoutforwhatIcanlootIhaven’tasquareinchofinterestinallSimlaMynameisn’tknowntoanymanwithanappointmentinhisgift，andIwantanappointment——agood，sound，pukkaoneI
　　believeyoucandoanythingyouturnyourselftodoWillyouhelpme？”MrsHauksbeethoughtforaminute，andpassedthelastofherriding-whipthroughherlips，aswashercustomwhenthinking。
　　Thenhereyessparkled，andshesaid：——“Iwill；“andsheshookhandsonitTarrion，havingperfectconfidenceinthisgreatwoman，tooknofurtherthoughtofthebusinessatallExcepttowonderwhatsortofanappointmenthewouldwin。
　　MrsHauksbeebegancalculatingthepricesofalltheHeadsofDepartmentsandMembersofCouncilsheknew，andthemoreshethoughtthemoreshelaughed，becauseherheartwasinthegameanditamusedherThenshetookaCivilListandranoverafewoftheappointmentsTherearesomebeautifulappointmentsintheCivilListEventually，shedecidedthat，thoughTarrionwastoogoodforthePoliticalDepartment，shehadbetterbeginbytryingtogethiminthereWhatwereherownplanstothisend，doesnotmatterintheleast，forLuckorFateplayedintoherhands，andshehadnothingtodobuttowatchthecourseofeventsandtakethecreditofthem。
　　AllViceroys，whentheyfirstcomeout，passthroughthe“DiplomaticSecrecy“crazeItwearsoffintime；buttheyallcatchitinthebeginning，becausetheyarenewtothecountry。
　　TheparticularViceroywhowassufferingfromthecomplaintjustthen——thiswasalongtimeago，beforeLordDufferinevercamefromCanada，orLordRiponfromthebosomoftheEnglishChurch——haditverybadly；andtheresultwasthatmenwhowerenewtokeepingofficialsecretswentaboutlookingunhappy；andtheViceroyplumedhimselfonthewayinwhichhehadinstillednotionsofreticenceintohisStaff。
　　Now，theSupremeGovernmenthaveacarelesscustomofcommittingwhattheydotoprintedpapersThesepapersdealwithallsortsofthings——fromthepaymentofRs200toa“secretservice“
　　native，uptorebukesadministeredtoVakilsandMotamidsofNativeStates，andratherbrusqueletterstoNativePrinces，tellingthemtoputtheirhousesinorder，torefrainfromkidnappingwomen，orfillingoffenderswithpoundedredpepper，andeccentricitiesofthatkindOfcourse，thesethingscouldneverbemadepublic，becauseNativePrincesnevererrofficially，andtheirStatesare，officially，aswelladministeredasOurterritoriesAlso，theprivateallowancestovariousqueerpeoplearenotexactlymatterstoputintonewspapers，thoughtheygivequaintreadingsometimes。
　　WhentheSupremeGovernmentisatSimla，thesepapersarepreparedthere，andgoroundtothepeoplewhooughttoseetheminoffice-
　　boxesorbypostTheprincipleofsecrecywastothatViceroyquiteasimportantasthepractice，andheheldthatabenevolentdespotismlikeOursshouldneverallowevenlittlethings，suchasappointmentsofsubordinateclerks，toleakouttillthepropertimeHewasalwaysremarkableforhisprinciples。
　　TherewasaveryimportantbatchofpapersinpreparationatthattimeIthadtotravelfromoneendofSimlatotheotherbyhand。
　　Itwasnotputintoanofficialenvelope，butalarge，square，pale-pinkone；thematterbeinginMSonsoftcrinkleypaperItwasaddressedto“TheHeadClerk，etc。，etc。”Now，between“TheHeadClerk，etc。，etc……”and“MrsHauksbee“andaflourish，isnoverygreatdifferenceiftheaddressbewritteninaverybadhand，asthiswasThechaprassiwhotooktheenvelopewasnotmoreofanidiotthanmostchaprassisHemerelyforgotwherethismostunofficialcoverwastobedelivered，andsoaskedthefirstEnglishmanhemet，whohappenedtobeamanridingdowntoAnnandaleinagreathurryTheEnglishmanhardlylooked，said：
　　“HauksbeeSahibkiMem。”andwentonSodidthechaprasss，becausethatletterwasthelastinstockandhewantedtogethisworkoverTherewasnobooktosign；hethrusttheletterintoMrsHauksbee’sbearer’shandsandwentofftosmokewithafriend。
　　MrsHauksbeewasexpectingsomecut-outpatternthingsinflimsypaperfromafriendAssoonasshegotthebigsquarepacket，therefore，shesaid，“Oh，theDEARcreature！”andtoreitopenwithapaper-knife，andalltheMSenclosurestumbledoutonthefloor。
　　MrsHauksbeebeganreadingIhavesaidthebatchwasratherimportantThatisquiteenoughforyoutoknowItreferredtosomecorrespondence，twomeasures，aperemptoryordertoanativechiefandtwodozenotherthingsMrsHauksbeegaspedassheread，forthefirstglimpseofthenakedmachineryoftheGreatIndianGovernment，strippedofitscasings，andlacquer，andpaint，andguard-rails，impresseseventhemoststupidmanAndMrs。
　　HauksbeewasacleverwomanShewasalittleafraidatfirst，andfeltasifshehadlaidholdofalightning-flashbythetail，anddidnotquiteknowwhattodowithitTherewereremarksandinitialsatthesideofthepapers；andsomeoftheremarkswererathermoreseverethanthepapersTheinitialsbelongedtomenwhoarealldeadorgonenow；buttheyweregreatintheirday。
　　MrsHauksbeereadonandthoughtcalmlyasshereadThenthevalueofhertrovestruckher，andshecastaboutforthebestmethodofusingitThenTarriondroppedin，andtheyreadthroughallthepaperstogether，andTarrion，notknowinghowshehadcomebythem，vowedthatMrsHauksbeewasthegreatestwomanonearth。
　　WhichIbelievewastrue，ornearlyso。
　　“Thehonestcourseisalwaysthebest。”saidTarrionafteranhourandahalfofstudyandconversation“Allthingsconsidered，theIntelligenceBranchisaboutmyformEitherthatortheForeignOfficeIgotolaysiegetotheHighGodsintheirTemples。”
　　Hedidnotseekalittleman，oralittlebigman，oraweakHeadofastrongDepartment，buthecalledonthebiggestandstrongestmanthattheGovernmentowned，andexplainedthathewantedanappointmentatSimlaonagoodsalaryThecompoundinsolenceofthisamusedtheStrongMan，and，ashehadnothingtodoforthemoment，helistenedtotheproposalsoftheaudaciousTarrion。
　　“Youhave，Ipresume，somespecialqualifications，besidesthegiftofself-assertion，fortheclaimsyouputforwards？”saidtheStrongMan“That，Sir。”saidTarrion，“isforyoutojudge。”
　　Thenhebegan，forhehadagoodmemory，quotingafewofthemoreimportantnotesinthepapers——slowlyandonebyoneasamandropschlorodyneintoaglassWhenhehadreachedtheperemptoryorder——
　　anditWASaperemptoryorder——theStrongManwastroubled。
　　Tarrionwoundup：——“AndIfancythatspecialknowledgeofthiskindisatleastasvaluablefor，letussay，aberthintheForeignOffice，asthefactofbeingthenephewofadistingushedofficer’swife。”ThathittheStrongManhard，forthelastappointmenttotheForeignOfficehadbeenbyblackfavor，andheknewit“I’llseewhatIcandoforyou。”saidtheStrongMan“Manythanks。”