A little while afterwards Ahmed returned to his commander's tent and asked to be allowed to speak to him. He was admitted.
"Well, dafadar, what is it?" asked Daly.
"With your good pleasure, sahib, I will now leave the Guides."
"What?"
"I wish to be no longer a Guide, sahib."
"Why, what's the meaning of this nonsense? You can't leave the Guides."
"With your pardon, sahib, I must. The sahib will remember that we of the Guides are always free to leave the sahibs' service if we please. It is one of the conditions."
"That's true; but nobody does it. What's your reason? Are you dissatisfied? You are the youngest dafadar in the corps, and if you go on as you have begun, you'll be a risaldar before I shall."
"I am not dissatisfied, sahib. But Rahmut Khan is my father."
Captain Daly stared.