"The key to that is the wealth of the Indies--as of yore."

"You mean if India remains loyal?"

"If India remains under the yoke."

"But, if Britain should preserve her tenure in India with the Japanese
troops--" Peter suggested.

Fallows shuddered. "As yet I can see no philosophy under heaven to
cover that."

"And you think Britain and Russia are enemies in spite of this
alliance?"

"Enemies, temperamental and structural--enemies, past and future."

Peter recurred to this point: "You think that India would not remain
loyal if she had arms?"

"I was in a little village of the Punjab two years ago," Fallows
replied, "and there was a lad of sixteen there, wonderful in promise--
a mind, a spirit. They could not raise in the village enough money to
send him across the seas steerage for his education. A single rifle
costs nearly three pounds. It is hard for us to realize how poor India
is."

Peter stood fast against this in his mind; his intellect would not
accept.... "Are you going to take the field again, Mr. Fallows?"