‘Major Sleeman, Colonel, at your service.’

Hervey bowed.

‘And this is Captain Fairbrother,’ added Somervile, ‘who is to act as my particular exploring officer.’

There were others in the room, a dozen or so military and writers, of whom Hervey took no notice except to nod. The superintendent was three or four years his senior (as he’d learned from the Army List), an inch or so taller, a little stocky, with a round and open face – a shade care-worn perhaps – and reddish-gold hair beginning to recede. Not, perhaps, a picture of entire good health, but a rather more striking figure than he’d expected, for it was held that long service in India generally diminished men in stature.

Hervey refused the offer of Madeira and took lime water instead, and a seat at the table. ‘How long was your journey from Jubbulpore, Major?’

‘The better part of two months, Colonel, but I took the opportunity to call on the residents at Nagpore and Haidarabad, and the agent also at Chintalpore.’

Hervey nodded. ‘And how did you find Chintal?’

‘Not, I fear, a place of contentment. There continues dispute with the Nizam, and forever skirmishing – banditry – with Nagpore. The state is not without enterprise, though. Some very fine rubies have been found these late years, and exploration goes apace, in the course of which coal, too, has been found. There are steam engines that pump water from the excavations, and haul out the earth – a very advanced thing – and plans for a steamer on the Godavari. Do you know Chintal, Colonel?’

‘In the late rajah’s time, yes. I’m surprised there’s no full-blown embassy still, especially in light of what you say. Does the agent have like status to resident?’

Somervile, looking slightly anxious, raised a hand. ‘This I think we may speak of later, respecting other matters, if you will.’ Then, turning again to Sleeman, ‘I would that you tell Colonel Hervey what you told me earlier of the extent now of your remit.’

‘Of course, Sir Eyre … Colonel Hervey, sir, five years ago Fort William charged me with directing a campaign against what has generally become known as thuggee. The word thug means, simply, “deceiver”, although here in the south of India, where the cult is not so general, they are sometimes known as phansigars – Hindoostanee also, from the Persian, meaning those who use a noose.’ …

Sleeman explained that during his time as a political officer in the Central Provinces, which lay along the boundary in Bengal with the presidency of Madras, he’d come to make a study of this particular and murderous cult of Kali, the Hindoos’ goddess of destruction. ‘The thug associations which we are now engaged in suppressing have been taught by those whom they revere as the expounders of the will of their deity that the murders they perpetrate are pleasing to her, provided they are perpetrated under certain restrictions, attended by certain observances, and preceded and followed by certain rites and sacrifices, and offerings. The deity who, according to their belief, guides and protects them is ever manifesting her will by signs; and as long as they understand and observe these signs they all consider themselves as acting in conformity to her will; and consequently, fulfilling her wishes and designs.’