“Where are we?” Ommony retorted bluntly. But the Lama merely smiled until his wrinkles were all in movement, and the fearless old eyes shone with kindly humor:
“My son, he who knows where he is knows more than all the gods. He who knows what he is knows all things. Is it not enough that each moment we are where we should be? Is not the whole universe a mystery? How shall the part be more comprehensible than the whole, since it must partake of the quality of the whole?”
But Ommony did not propose to be put off by wise conundrums. His jaw came forward obstinately.
“I was locked in here,” he said. “I have a right to know why.”
“To keep out those whose ignorance might cause them to intrude,” the Lama answered, exactly as if he were teaching school. “It is not good to place temptation in the path of the inquisitive.”
Feeling as if stilts had been kicked from under him, Ommony tried again, more bluntly:
“You know who I am,” he began, speaking English; but the Lama interrupted in Urdu:
“My son, if I knew that, I should be wiser than all those whose duty is to rule the stars! You have answered to the name of Gupta Rao.”
“For God’s sake,” said Ommony, again in English, “why not tell me outright what your business is? I’ll begin by being frank. I’m spying on you! I would like to believe you are above suspicion. I’m in doubt.”
“My son,” said the Lama, answering in Urdu, “no man is above suspicion. The sun and the moon cast their shadows, and therein the destroyers lurk. Doubt is the forerunner of decision. Shadows move. All revelation comes to him who waits.”