The visit was short on account of the invalids, but it was made very pleasant by the Rajah’s courteous attentions; and on his return to quarters, and having a chat with Wyatt, telling him all the proceedings of the evening, and describing in particular his audience with the Ranee, Dick was in the highest of spirits, giving it as his opinion that the enmity was dying out fast.
“I believe the Brahmin councillor and the old Wazir mean to be the best of friends now.”
“Do you?” said Wyatt dryly.
“Yes, and you don’t. But wait a bit. The Rajah will be asking you again soon, and then you’ll see how differently they’ll behave.”
“You seem to have been drinking of the Rajah’s wine of forgetfulness, my son,” said Wyatt, “and when the wine’s in the wit’s out.”
“Oh, is it?” said Dick. “Well, I must have a very small amount of wit, then, for one little glass of that sweet sugar-and-watery stuff to have driven it out. It’s all light, I tell you; and the Wazir asked me how soon the drill-officers, as he called them, would be here.”
“And you couldn’t tell him,” said Wyatt.
“I said very soon.”
“Then, now, let’s go to bed.”
“What a hurry you’re in!”