like, and send you the vouchers in proper order.'

'But with all your own work too! It's askin' -'

'It's not the least trouble indeed. You see, as an
ethnologist, the thing's very interesting to me. I'd like to make a
note of it for some Government work that I'm doing. The
transformation of a regimental badge like your Red Bull into a sort
of fetish that the boy follows is very interesting.'

'But I can't thank you enough.'

'There's one thing you can do. All we Ethnological men are as
jealous as jackdaws of one another's discoveries. They're of no
interest to anyone but ourselves, of course, but you know what
book-collectors are like. Well, don't say a word, directly or
indirectly, about the Asiatic side of the boy's character - his
adventures and his prophecy, and so on. I'll worm them out of the
boy later on and - you see?'

'I do. Ye'll make a wonderful account of it. Never a word will I
say to anyone till I see it in print.'

'Thank you. That goes straight to an ethnologist's heart. Well, I
must be getting back to my breakfast. Good Heavens! Old Mahbub here
still?' He raised his voice, and the horse-dealer came out from
under the shadow of the tree, 'Well, what is it?'

'As regards that young horse,' said Mahbub, 'I say that when a colt
is born to be a polo-pony, closely following the ball without