“In your room, then?” said the Doctor.
“Yes, sir.”
“But securely locked up, you say?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Singh, colouring a little, as he directed a sharp glance at Glyn, who added to his confusion by making a grimace.
“Ah,” said the Doctor thoughtfully, “that is quite right. Emeralds,” he continued thoughtfully, “engraved with Sanskrit letters. An ancient Indian relic, of course. And very curious, no doubt. It is quite an old custom that of engraving gems, Mr Severn. The Greeks and Romans really excelled in the extremely difficult art, and I have seen in museums very beautifully engraved heads of Grecian monarchs and Roman emperors and empresses, and also signet-rings and other ornaments. Dear me,” he continued, with a smile from one to the other, “I am much surprised to find that such a specimen of the engraver’s work has been lying here in my establishment, and my curiosity is greatly excited. But really, from what you say, such a thing as this ought not to be kept in a schoolboy’s box, but in an iron safe along with plate, or lying at a banker’s. Mr Singh, really I should like to see this—er—article of—er—er—this ornamental belt. Will you show it to me?”
“I can’t, sir,” said the boy half-spitefully, and he flashed a look at Glyn. “Severn said, sir, that I was not to talk about it or show it to anybody.”
“As I have before said,” continued the Doctor, “I quite approve of your friend’s anxiety respecting your position. It was very wise, and I will not press to see it, feeling as I do that no parade should be made of such an object as this. Why, every pupil in the establishment would be wanting to see it, and— There, it is much better not.”
“But I didn’t mean, sir,” said Glyn, “that Singh should refuse to show it to you. It was only to guard against such a thing as you have suggested.—Go and fetch it, Singh, at once.”
Singh hurried eagerly out of the room; and as soon as he was gone Glyn said, “Singh is getting more and more English, sir, every day; but he used to be very fond of talking about being an Indian prince, and was weak enough to be proud of that belt and ready to show it to any one who asked.”
“Not to his fellow-pupils, I hope?” said the Doctor.