“Wait!” said the Risaldar.

“These soldiers!” sneered the priest. “It is wait—wait—wait with them, always!”

“Hast thou a son.”

“Ay! But what of it?”

“I said 'hast,' not 'hadst'!”

“Ay. I have a son.

“Where?”

“In one of the temple-chambers overhead.”

“Nay, priest! Thy son lies gagged and bound and trussed in a place I know of, and which thou dost not know!”

“Since when?”