Tibet.'

'Where in Tibet?'

'From behind the snows - from a very far place. He knows the stars;
he makes horoscopes; he reads nativities. But he does not do this
for money. He does it for kindness and great charity. I am his
disciple. I am called also the Friend of the Stars.'

'Thou art no hillman.'

'Ask him. He will tell thee I was sent to him from the Stars to
show him an end to his pilgrimage.'

'Humph! Consider, brat, that I am an old woman and not altogether a
fool. Lamas I know, and to these I give reverence, but thou art no
more a lawful chela than this my finger is the pole of this wagon.
Thou art a casteless Hindu - a bold and unblushing beggar,
attached, belike, to the Holy One for the sake of gain.'

'Do we not all work for gain?' Kim changed his tone promptly to
match that altered voice. 'I have heard' - this was a bow drawn at
a venture - 'I have heard -'

'What hast thou heard?' she snapped, rapping with the finger.

'Nothing that I well remember, but some talk in the bazars, which
is doubtless a lie, that even Rajahs - small Hill Rajahs -'

'But none the less of good Rajput blood.'