Within the space of half an hour a horseman was kicking up the desert dust, riding as though he carried news of life-and-death importance, and with another man and a led horse galloping behind him.

Five minutes after the man had started, in a cell below the temple, of Siva, the court official who had taken down the letter was repeating it word for word to a congeries of priests.

And one hour later still, in a room up near the roof of Jaimihr's palace, one of the priests--panting from having come so fast--was asking the Rajah's brother what he thought about it.
"Did he say nothing--," asked Jaimihr.
"Nothing, sahib." The priest watched him eagerly; he would have to bear back to the other priests an exact account of the Prince's every word, and movement, and expression.
"Then I, too, say nothing!" answered Jaimihr.
"But to the priests of Siva, who are waiting, sahib ?" "Tell them I said nothing.".