"Changed my mind. You didn't happen to see a young lady on a grey stallion this morning, did you, old chap?"
"I did not. And the earl expects you to ride away from spins, not after them, out here."
"The governor is optimistic. This is only curiosity—to see the girl Ananda is going to make his queen."
"Where did you hear that rot?"
"The usual source—my bearer."
"Bad form. It's all idle gossip, too; she's the niece of old Boelke."
"Oh, now I know why you ride up on the hill every morning. Did your bearer tell you? Earl Craig expects you to keep away from skirts while——By Jove! What's the bally shindy—are they planting another brass god in the temple?"
Lord Victor's sudden change in discourse had been caused by sounds of strife that came from a Hindu village that lay between Maha Bodhi Hill and Darpore City.
"The men of the temple and others who are followers of Mahadeo live yonder in Chota Darpore," Rada said.
As eager as a boy at the clang of a fire bell, Lord Victor, his eyes alight with sporting fervour, cried: "Come on, captain; every bally hour in this land of the poppy has its spiffing thrill."