He answered the prince carelessly.

“The Dewan sent for me to see him before I came to you, Maharaj Sahib.”

“Why?  What for?  That man thinks that he is the ruler of Lalpuri, not I,” grumbled the Rajah.  “I gave orders that you were to be sent to me as soon as you arrived.  I want news of the girl.  Is she still there?”

“Yes; she is still there.”

“Listen to me,” the Rajah leant forward and tapped him on the knee.  “I must have that girl.  Ever since I saw her at the durbar at Jalpaiguri I have wanted her.”

“Your Highness knows that it is difficult to get hold of an Englishwoman in India.”

“I know.  But I do not care.  I must have her.  I will have her.”  He filled a tumbler with liqueur and sipped it.  “I have sent for you to find a way.  You are clever.  You know the customs of these English.  You have often told me how you did as you wished with the white women in England.”

“That is very different.  It is easy there,” and Chunerbutty smiled at pleasant memories.  “There the women are shameless, and they prefer us to their own colour.  And the men are not jealous.  They are proud that their daughters and sisters should know us.”

He helped himself to the liqueur.

“Why do you not go to England?” he continued.  “There every woman would throw herself at your feet.  They make much of the Hindu students, the sons of fat bunniahs and shopkeepers in Calcutta, because they think them all Indian princes.  For you who really are one they would do anything.”

The Rajah sat up furious and dashed his glass down on the tray so violently that it shivered to atoms.

“Go to England?  Have I not tried to?” he cried.  “But every time I ask, the Viceroy refuses me permission.  I, a rajah, the son of rajahs, must beg leave like a servant from a man whose grandfather was a nobody—­and be refused.  May his womenkind be dishonoured!  May his grave be defiled!”

He filled another glass and emptied it before continuing.

“But, I tell you, I want this girl.  I must have her.  You must get her for me.  Can you not carry her off and bring her here?  You can have all the money you want to bribe any one.  You said there are only two white men on the garden.  I will send you a hundred soldiers.”

Chunerbutty looked alarmed.  He had no wish to be dragged into such a mad proceeding as to attempt to carry off an Englishwoman by force, and in a place where he was well known.  For the girl in question was Noreen Daleham.  The Rajah had seen her a few months before at a durbar or reception of native notables held by the Lieutenant Governor of Eastern Bengal, and been fired with an insane and unholy passion for her.

“Your Highness, it is impossible.  Quite impossible.  Do you not see that all the power of the Sirkar (the Government) would be put forth to punish us?  You would be deposed, and I—­I would be sent to the convict settlement in the Andaman Islands, if I were not hanged.”