eyes with the engaging confidence of a child who never has been
refused anything, in or out of reason. King made no effort to look
pleased, so the Rangar drew on his resources.

"I have a letter from her," he stated blandly.

From a pocket in the carriage cushions he brought out a silver tube,
richly carved in the Kashmiri style and closed at either end with
a tightly fitting silver cap. King accepted it and drew the cap
from one end. A roll of scented paper fell on his lap, and a puff
of hot wind combined with a lurch of the carriage springs came near
to lose it for him; he snatched it just in time and unrolled it
to find a letter written to himself in Urdu, in a beautiful
flowing hand.

Urdu is perhaps the politest of written tongues and lends itself
most readily to indirectness; but since he did not expect to read
a catalogue of exact facts, he was not disappointed.

Translated, the letter ran:

"To Athelstan King sahib, by the hand of Rewa Gunga.
Greeting. The bearer is my well-trusted servant, whom
I have chosen to be the sahib's guide until Heaven
shall be propitious and we meet. He is instructed
in all that he need know concerning what is now in hand,
and he will tell by word of mouth such things as ought
not to be written. By all means let Rewa Gunga travel
with you, for he is of royal blood, of the House of
Ketchwaha and will not fail you. His honor and mine