Instead, he let Sumpsi Din sleep for long hours at a time face-downwards on his arm in the sun, which was what Sumpsi Din liked best in the world, while he, Sonny Sahib, clapped his hands a hundred times at the little green thieves, abusing them roundly, and wondering always at the back of his head why so splendid a horseman should have stopped at his particular doorstep.

So it was not until the evening, when he came back very hungry, hoping the horseman would be gone, that he heard Tooni's wonderful news.

Before she gave him water or oil, or even a chupatty, Tooni told him, holding his hand in hers.
'The Maharajah has sent for you, O noonday kite; where have you been in the sun?
The Maharajah has sent for you, lotus-eyed one, and I, though I am grown too old for journeys, must go also to the palace of the Maharajah! Oh, it is very far, and I know not what he desires, the Maharajah! My heart is split in two, little Sahib! This khaber is the cat's moon to me.

I will never sleep again!' Then for some reason the fear went out of Sonny Sahib.

'Am I not going with you, Tooni-ji ?' said he, which was his way of saying 'dear Tooni.' 'There is no cause for fear.