The trio quietly ascended to the roof, which was without guards in the daytime; and as if for Hulton’s benefit, his companions in turn giving him an arm, the whole range of battlemented terrace was traversed again and again, till, in a hopeless way, the little party descended without a word.
“Doesn’t look very cheerful, Dick,” said Wyatt, “does it?”
“No,” said Dick firmly; “it was all imagination.”
He had hardly spoken when there was a challenge at the gate, the guard was called out, and the corporal on duty sent up word that the Rajah had arrived.
“Look here,” said Dick eagerly, “he has heard of the upset last night. Let’s ask him.”
“Very well,” said Hulton. “He is, of course, our friend, and he ought to know.”
Wyatt and Dick went down to meet their visitor as he descended from his elephant; and he returned with them to their room, ready to express his great concern about the attack, and assuring them that if he could only find out who originated the affair, that man should die.
“Thank you, sir,” said Wyatt quietly; “and he deserves to. But we don’t know who it was, nor how he got in.—Now, Darrell, speak out and tell his highness your ideas.”
These were given clearly enough, the Rajah hearing them to the end, but shaking his head.
“I never heard of anything of the kind,” he said at last, “and I don’t think any such passage exists. There would be no harm, though, in searching again; and I will place a guard round the place every night.”