"You hold cards and know not how to play them!"
"I know along which road my honor lies! I lay no plans to murder
people in their sleep."
"Honor! And what is honor? What is the interest on honor--how much
percent?"
The Risaldar turned his back on him, but the High Priest laughed.
"`The days of the Raj are numbered!" said the priest. "The English
will be slain to the last man and then where will you be? Where will
be the profit on your honor?"
The Risaldar listened, for he could not help it, but he made no answer.
"Me you hold here, a prisoner. You can slay or torture. But what
good will that do? The woman that you guard will fall sooner or
later into Hindu hands. You can not fight against a legion. Listen!
I hold the strings of wealth. With a jerk I can unloose a fortune
in your lap. I need that woman there!"
"For what?" snarled the Risaldar, whirling round on him, his eyes
ablaze.
"'For power! Kharvani's temple here has images and paintings and
a voice that speaks--but no Kharvani!"
The Rajput turned away again and affected unconcern.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236