uppermost. Rustum Khan strolled back to where his mare was being
cleaned by the lean Armenian servant, gave the boy a few curt orders,
and there among the shadows made his mind up. He returned and stood
before Monty, Kagig eying him with something less than amiability.
He pointed toward the ample room remaining between Monty and me.

"Will the sahib permit? My izzat (honor) is in question."

"Izzat be damned!" Monty answered.

Rustum Khan colored darkly.

"I shared a tent with you once on campaign, sahib, in the days before
--the good days before--those old days when--"

"When you and I served one Raj, eh? I remember," Monty answered.
"I remember it was your tent, Rustum Khan. Unless memory plays tricks
with me, the Orakzai Pathans had burned mine, and I had my choice
between sharing yours or sleeping in the rain."

"Truly, huzoor."

"I don't recollect that I mouthed very much about honor on that occasion.
If anybody's honor was in question then, I fancy it was yours. I
might have inconvenienced myself, and dishonored you, I suppose,
by sleeping in the wet. You can dishonor the lot of us now, if you
care to, by--oh, tommyrot! Tell your man to put your blankets in
the only empty place, and behave like a man of sense!"

"But, huzoor--"