"Five to one!"

The Rajput's gruff throat thrilled with a new emotion. He sprang
suddenly past me, and thrust himself between Monty and the German,
who took advantage of the opportunity to walk away.

"Lord Montdidier, colonel sahib bahadur, burra salaam!"

He made no obeisance, but stood facing Monty eye to eye. The words,
as be roiled them out, were like an order given to a thousand men.
One almost heard the swish of sabers as the squadrons came to the
general salute.

"I knew you, Rustum Khan, the minute I set eyes on you. Why were
you beating this man?"

"Sahib bahadur, because he wrote in his book that people in France
should pray for me in church, naming my honorable name, because,
says he--but I will not repeat what he says. It is not seemly."

"How do you know what is in his diary?" Monty asked.

"That German read it out to me. We were sitting, he and I, discussing
how the Turks intend to butcher the Armenians, as all the world knows
is written. They say it shall happen soon. Said he to me--the German
said to me--'I know another,' said he, 'who if I had my way should
suffer first in that event.' Saying which he showed the written
book that he had found, and read me parts of it. The German was
for denouncing the fellow as a friend of Armenians, but I was for
beating him at once, and I had my way."