“Tsiang Samdup.”
Chutter Chand did not catch that name; or, if he did, the name meant nothing to him. Ommony, on the other hand, had to use all his power of will to suppress excitement, and even so he could not quite control himself. The Hillman noticed the change of expression.
“Aye,” he said, “Tsiang Samdup is a great one.”
“Who is the other who was with him—the young one?”
“His chela.[[2]]”
“What name?”
“Samding. Some call him San-fun-ho.”
“And what have you to do with them?”
Instead of answering, the Hillman retorted with a question.
“What is thy name? Say it again. Ommonee? That sounds like a name with magic in it. Om mani padme hum! Who gave thee that name? Eh? Thy father had it? Who was he? How is it a man should take his father’s name? Is the spirit of the father not offended? Thou art a strange one, Ommonee.”