“You are too wise,” said Vasantasena.
“Macauley the Eurasian had the stone,” the Lama went on in a booming voice. “A certain person gave it to him in a package yesterday, to take it to Simla and thence to Tilgaun. That would have been well. But Macauley the Eurasian was weak and dallied with a woman—”
“No Eurasian has ever been in my house!” Vasantasena interrupted, flaring.
“And the woman had a husband; and the husband was a Sudra[[25]] who was seeking education from a Brahman, so he gave the piece of jade to him. And the Brahman came hither, and boasted—and took opium—”
“He brought the drug with him. I never gave any man opium!” Vasantasena interrupted.
“And she took the stone from him and brought it to you. All this in the space of one night,” said the Lama.
“But how do you know?
“I do know.”
“How do you know it was this girl!”
“She is the only one who would have given it to you. Any of the others would have kept it.”