"Guard!" He made a sign.

A spoken word might have told the priests too much, and have set them busy fore-stalling him.

The guards rushed down the steps, seized both McCleans, and half-carried, half-hustled them up the palace-steps, through the great carved doors, and presently returned without them.
"They are my prisoners," said the Maharajah, turning to the high priest.
"We will now proceed." The crowd was satisfied, at least for the time being.

Well versed in the kind of treatment meted out to prisoners, partly informed of what was preparing for the British all through India, the crowd never doubted for an instant but that grizzly vengeance awaited the Christians who had dared to remonstrate against time-honored custom.

It looked for the moment as though the high priest's word had moved the Maharajah to order the arrest, and the high priest realized it.