I am at thy service!" Tact was inborn in Cunningham, as it had been in his father.

He realized that he ought at once to show his appreciation of the high plane of the service offered.
"There is one way in which you could help me almost at once, Mahommed Gunga," he answered.
"Command me, sahib." "I need your advice--the advice of a man who really knows.

I need horses, and--at first at least--I would rather trust your judgment than my own.

Will you help me buy them ?" The Raiput's eyes blazed pleasure.

On war, and wine, and women, and a horse are the four points to ask a man's advice and win his approval by the asking.
"Nay, sahib; why buy horses here?
These Bombay traders have only crows' meat to sell to the ill-advised.