Is it peace or war, Mahatma?
Will you introduce me to your secret council, or will you fight to a finish ?" "I would rather not fight with you, my young friend." "Introduce me, then," King answered, smiling.
"You don't know what you ask--what that involves." "But I propose to know," said King.
The Mahatma never seemed to mind acknowledging defeat.
"I see you are determined," he said quietly.

"Determination, my young friend, combined with ignorance, is a murderer nine times out of ten.
However, you do not understand that, and you are determined, I have no authority to make such terms as you propose, but I will submit the matter to those whom you desire to meet.

Does that satisfy you ?" King looked immensely dissatisfied.
"I would rather be your friend than your enemy," he answered.
"So said light and darkness each to the other when they first met! You shall have your answer presently.

In the mean time will you try not to make my task even more difficult than it already is ?" King laughed uncomfortably.
"Mahatma, I like you well enough, but no terms until I have your answer! Sorry! I'd like to be friends with you." "The pity of it is that though you are honestly determined you are bound to fail," the Mahatma answered; and at that he dismissed the whole subject with a motion of one hand, and turned toward Ismail, who was lurking about in the shadows like a wolf.
The Mahatma sent the man to the door of the _panch mahal_ with a message that money was needed; and the mahout spent the next ten minutes in loud praises of his kneeling elephant, presumably on the theory that "it pays to advertise," for it is not only the West that worships at that shrine.
When Ismail came back with a tray on which were several little heaps of money the mahout went into abject ecstasies of mingled jubilee and reverence.

His mouth betrayed unbelief and his eyes glinted avarice.