Written by Sobrao Satai, Failed Entrance Allahabad University, for
Venerable Teshoo Lama the priest of Such-zen looking for a River,
address care of Tirthankars' Temple, Benares. P. M. -Please note
boy is apple of eye, and rupees shall be sent per hoondi three
hundred per annum. For God Almighty's sake." Now, is that ravin'
lunacy or a business proposition? I ask you, because I'm fairly at
my wits' end.'

'He says he will give me three hundred rupees a year? So he will
give me them.'

'Oh, that's the way you look at it, is it?'

'Of course. If he says so!'

The priest whistled; then he addressed Kim as an equal. 'I don't
believe it; but we'll see. You were goin' off today to the
Military Orphanage at Sanawar, where the Regiment would keep you
till you were old enough to enlist. Ye'd be brought up to the
Church of England. Bennett arranged for that. On the other hand, if
ye go to St Xavier's ye'll get a better education an - an can have
the religion. D'ye see my dilemma? Kim saw nothing save a vision
of the lama going south in a train with none to beg for him.

'Like most people, I'm going to temporize. If your friend sends the
money from Benares - Powers of Darkness below, where's a street-
beggar to raise three hundred rupees? - ye'll go down to Lucknow
and I'll pay your fare, because I can't touch the subscription-
money if I intend, as I do, to make ye a Catholic. If he doesn't,
ye'll go to the Military Orphanage at the Regiment's expense. I'll