“Dear me!” said the Doctor, looking from one to the other. “And by what authority?”
“My guardian’s, I suppose, sir.”
“Dear me!” said the Doctor again. “The Colonel says he hopes that you are not so foolish as to wear the belt at any time. Your schoolfellow forbids you to speak about it to any one. Well, there, I do not wish to ask impertinent questions. That will do, gentlemen. I merely sent to you for enlightenment. You need say no more.”
“I beg your pardon, sir; I think I ought to,” said Glyn. “I did tell Singh not to talk about it, and to keep it safely locked up in his box, for it is very valuable, and I believe it is the one that his father the Maharajah used to wear.”
“Oh,” said the Doctor, “now I begin to understand. But a belt, you say?”
“Yes, sir,” said Glyn, “an ornamental belt with a large clasp formed of three emeralds engraved with words in Sanskrit.”
“Then it is quite an article of ornamentation?” said the Doctor.
“Yes, sir.”
“And valuable, I suppose?”
“I suppose so, sir, very valuable, besides being a family relic that has been worn by the different chiefs for many years past.”