“Forgive me, my friend,” he said.  “I acted unwisely in your case.  But I was angry with my people for their cowardice.”

“Your Majesty,” replied the colonel, “the fault lay primarily with me.  I should not have accepted it or returned.  I will tell you the truth.  It was the filigree basket of gold and precious stones that brought me back.”

“So?  And all for nothing, since the hiding-place I gave you is not the true one.  But of that, more anon.  I want this wretch Durga Ram spread out on an ant hill . . .”

And then, without apparent reason, he began to call for Lakshmi, the beautiful Lakshmi, the wife of his youth.  He ordered preparations for an elephant fight; rambled, talked as though he were but twenty; his eyes dim, his lips loose and pendulent.  And in this condition he might live ten or twenty years.  Ramabai was sore at heart.

They had to wait two days till his mind cleared again.  His first question upon his return to his mental balance was directed to Kathlyn.  Where was the document he had given to his friend Hare?  Kathlyn explained that Umballa had taken it from her.

“But, Your Majesty,” exclaimed the colonel rather impatiently, “what difference does it make?  Your return has nullified that document.”

“Not in case of my death.  And in Allaha the elder document is always the legal document, unless it is legally destroyed.  It is not well to antagonize the priests, who hold us firmly to this law.  I might make a will in favor of Pundita, but it would not legally hold in justice if all previous wills were not legally destroyed.  You must find this document.”

“Did you ever hear of a law to equal that?” asked Bruce of the colonel.

“No, my boy, I never did.  It would mean a good deal of red tape for a man who changed his mind frequently.  He could not fool his relations; they would know.  The laws of the dark peoples have always amazed me, because if you dig deep enough into them you are likely to find common sense at the bottom.  We must search Umballa’s house thoroughly.  I wish to see Ramabai and Pundita in the shadow of their rights.  Can’t destroy a document offhand and make a new one without legally destroying the first.  Well, let us be getting back to the bungalow.  We’ll talk it over there.”

At the bungalow everything was systematically being prepared for the homeward journey.  The laughter and chatter of the two girls was music to their father’s ears.  And sometimes he intercepted secret glances between Bruce and Kathlyn.  Youth, youth; youth and love!  Well, so it was.  He himself had been a youth, had loved and been beloved.  But he grew very lonely at the thought of Kathlyn eventually going into another home; and some young chap would soon come and claim Winnie, and he would have no one but Ahmed.  If only he had had a boy, to bring his bride to his father’s roof!

Pictures were taken down from the walls, the various wild animal heads, and were packed away in strong boxes.  And Ahmed went thither and yon, a hundred cares upon his shoulders.  He was busy because then he had no time to mourn Lal Singh.