"If my husband had known, he would have stayed to receive you."

"Oh, no! I took good care for that! I continued my ride until after I knew
he had gone for the day."

Things dawn on your understanding in the East one by one, as the
stars come out at night, until in the end there is such a bewildering
number of points of light that people talk about the "incomprehensible
East." Tess saw light suddenly.

"Do you mean that those three beggars are your spies?"

The Rajput nodded. Then his bright eyes detected the instant resolution
that Tess formed.

"But you must not be afraid of them. They will be very useful--often."

"How?"

The visitor made a gesture that drew attention to Chamu.

"Your butler knows English. Do you know Russian?"

"Not a word."

"French?"

"Very little."