He is that pig Mahommed Gunga's man; therefore, there' is nothing more sure than that Mahommed Gunga will be here, sooner or later, to look for him--Mahommed Gunga, with the half of a Hindoo name, the whole of a Moslem's fire, and the blind friendship of the British to rely on!" "But if the man be dead when Mahommed Gunga comes ?" "He will be dead when Mahommed Gunga comes, if only what we await has first happened.

But this rising that is planned hangs fire.

Were I Maharajah I would like to see the Rangar who dare flout me or ask questions! I would like but to set eyes on that Rangar once! But I am not yet Maharajah; I am a prince--a younger brother--surrounded, counselled, impeded, hampered, rendered laughable by fat idiots!" "My belly but shows your highness's generosity.

At whose cost have I grown fat ?" "Ay, at whose cost?
I should have kept thee slim, on prison diet, and saved myself a world of useless problems! Cease prattling! Get away from me! If I have to poison this Ali Partab, or wring his casteless neck, I will make thee do it, and give thee to Mahommed Gunga to wreak vengeance on.

Leave me to think!" The fat former occupant of the room above the arch of the caravansary waddled to the far end of the cloister, and sat down, cross-legged, to grumble to himself and scratch his paunch at intervals.