The sparks made much crackling from the wires, at which the amir laughed aloud.

Presently the German chief read off a message from Berlin, conveying the kaiser's compliments to his highness, the amir.
"Is that message from Berlin ?" the amir asked, and I thought I heard one of his officers chuckle.
"Yes, Your Highness," said the German officer.
"Is it not relayed from anywhere ?" the amir asked, and the German stared at him swiftly--thus, as if for the first time his own suspicion were aroused.
"From Stamboul, Your Highness--relayed from Stamboul," he said, as one who makes concessions.
The amir chuckled softly to himself and smiled.
"These are my engineers," said he, "all college trained.

They tell me our wireless installation at Khabul, which connects us through Simla with Calcutta and the world beyond, is a very good one, yet it will only reach to Simla, although I should say it is a hundred times as large as yours, and although we have an enormous dynamo to give the energy as against your box of batteries." The Germans, who were clustered all about their chief, kept straight faces, but their eyes popped round and their mouths grew stiff with the effort to suppress emotion.
"This, Your Highness, is the last new invention," said the German chief.
"Then my engineers shall look at it," said the amir, "for we wish to keep abreast of the inventions.

As you remarked just now, we are a little shut off from the world.

We must not let slip such opportunities for education." And then and there he made his engineers go forward to inspect everything, he scarce concealing his merriment; and the Germans stood aside, looking like thieves caught in the act while the workings were disclosed of such a wireless apparatus as might serve to teach beginners.
"It might serve perhaps between one village and the next, while the batteries persisted," they said, reporting to the amir presently.
The amir laughed, but I thought he looked puzzled-perplexed, rather than displeased.