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。”