Then he went to the window and thrust the shutters open.

He turned round suddenly upon Ahmed.
"Were you ever in Mecca ?" "Yes, Huzoor," and Ahmed's eyes flashed at the question.
"I met three men from Chiltistan on the Lowari Pass.

They were going down to Kurachi.

I, too, must make the pilgrimage to Mecca." He stood watching the flame of the lamp as he spoke, and spoke in a monotonous dull voice, as though what he said were of little importance.
But Ahmed Ismail listened to the words, not the voice, and his joy was great.

It was as though he heard a renegade acknowledge once more the true faith.
"Afterwards, Huzoor," he said, significantly.