“Because, sir, the Wazir was not my friend. I looked upon him as my enemy, and I knew that if he found me there I should have to fight for my life, perhaps against treachery.”
“Go on,” said the Rajah, and the Wazir repeated his scornful laugh.
“I waited in silence while I heard him go back in the darkness to the steps,” continued Dick, “and then I heard him set down the lamp, and I could see him by the sparks he struck busying himself trying to relight it. But it was long before he could get it to burn.”
Dick faced the Rajah, watching his face as he spoke in his simple, straightforward way, which carried truth in every tone; while Wyatt kept his eyes fixed upon the Wazir, whose eyelids were half-closed; and at any moment the English officer was prepared for treachery.
“At last,” continued Dick, in the midst of the breathless interest of the listeners, “the lamp burned out brightly again, and as he came back towards where I stood looking from behind one of the pillars, I for the first time knew what the bag contained, for two or three gems had escaped from the mouth or a hole broken through, and sparkled brilliantly upon the stone floor.”
Dick paused for a moment, and a pent-up sigh escaped from several present.
“He caught sight of the escaped stones,” continued Dick, “and as he picked up the bag he hurriedly thrust them back into their places, and rose up to go on, bag and lamp in hand.”
“Yes,” said the Rajah, for Dick had halted again.
“There is very little more to tell, sir. He went on with the lamp towards the side of the great vault, and went up to one of the cells there that was lying open. I distinctly saw him go in and place the bag in a niche there, come out, and close the door.”
“How did he close the door?” said the Rajah sharply. “By sliding a great slab of stone across the opening and letting fall a block behind it in the groove,” said Dick quietly.