trunk that had been fetched from the other station and nursed the
new hand-bag on his knees, picking everlastingly at the lock and
wondering audibly what the bag contained to an accompaniment of
low-growled sympathy.

"I am his servant--for she said so--and he said so. As the custom
is he gave me the key of the great bag--on which I sit--as he said
himself, for safe-keeping. Then why--why in Allah's name--am I
not to have the key of this bag too? Of this little bag that holds
so little and is so light?"

"It might be money in it?" hazarded one of the herd.

"Nay, for that it is too light."

"Paper money!" suggested another man. "Hundies, with printing on
the face that sahibs accept instead of gold."

"Nay, I know where his money is," said Ismail. "He has but little
with him."

"A razor would slit the leather easily," suggested another man.
"Then with a hand inserted carefully through the slit, so as not
to widen it more than needful, a man could soon discover the contents.
And later, the bag might be dropped or pushed violently against
some sharp thing, to explain the cut."

Ismail shook his head.

"Why? What could he do to thee?"