In a moment, when they recognised the meaning of the pictures, their excitement grew quite intense.

The photographs were passed round from hand to hand, amid loud exclamations of joy and surprise.

One brother would point out with astonishment to another some familiar symbol or some ancient text; two or three of them, in their devout enthusiasm, fell down on their knees and kissed the pictures.
We had played a trump card! The monks could see for themselves by this time that we were deeply interested in Buddhism.

Now, minds of that calibre never understand a disinterested interest; the moment they saw we were collectors of Buddhist pictures, they jumped at once to the conclusion that we must also, of course, be devout believers.

So far did they carry their sense of fraternity, indeed, that they insisted upon embracing us.