He was wondering whether Mahbub Ali would send him as much as a whole rupee.

Then he could pay the letter-writer and write letters to the lama at Benares.
Perhaps Mahbub Ali would visit him next time he came south with horses.
Surely he must know that Kim's delivery of the letter to the officer at Umballa had caused the great war which the men and boys had discussed so loudly over the barrack dinner-tables.

But if Mahbub Ali did not know this, it would be very unsafe to tell him so.

Mahbub Ali was hard upon boys who knew, or thought they knew, too much.
'Well, till I get further news'-- Father Victor's voice interrupted the reverie.

'Ye can run along now and play with the other boys.