Bahadur----?"

At that she pulled her sari forward, turning away from him. His look and
tone repelled her, frightened her; yet she could not call for Roy, who
was playing his part too scrupulously well.

"Go----! Leave me!" she commanded desperately, louder than she had
spoken yet. "I am not ungrateful. But--making _pujah_[14]--I wish to be
alone----"

His chuckling laugh sent a shiver through her.

"Why these airs of the zenana with one enlightened--like yourself...?"

He broke off and retreated abruptly. For a shadowy figure had sauntered
into view.

Aruna sprang towards it--zenana airs forgotten. "Oh, Roy----!"

"Did you call, Aruna?" he asked. "Thought I heard you. This fellow
bothering you----? I'll settle him----" Turning, he said politely: "My
cousin is here, under my escort, to make _pujah, guru-ji_. She wishes to
be alone."

"Your cousin, except for my timely intrusion, would by this time be
permanently secure from interruption--in the belly of a _mugger_,"[15]
retorted the supposed ascetic--in English.

Roy started and stared. The voice was unmistakable.

"Chandranath! Masquerading as a saint? _You_ are no _guru_."

"And _you_ are no Rajput. You also appear to be masquerading--as a
lover, perhaps? Quite useless trying to fool me, Sinclair, with
play-acting--about cousins. In my capacity of _guru_ I feel compelled to
warn this accomplished young lady that her fine cavalier is only a sham
Rajput of British extraction...."

"_Sham_--curse you! I'm a genuine Seesodia--on one side----" The instant
he had spoken, he saw his folly.

"Oho--half-caste only!"

An oath and a threatening forward move, impelled the speaker to an
undignified step backward. Roy cooled a little at that. The fellow was
beneath contempt.

"I am of highest caste, English and Indian. I admit no slur in the
conjunction; and I take no insults from any man...." He made another
forward move, purely for the pleasure of seeing Chandranath jerk
backward. "If my cousin was in danger, we are grateful to you. But I
told you, she wishes to be alone. So I must ask you to move on
elsewhere."

"Oh, as to that ... I have no violent predilection for your society."

And, as he sauntered off, with an elaborate air of pleasing no one but
himself, Roy kept pace alongside--"For all the world," he thought, "like
Terry edging off an intruder. Too polite to go for him; but quite
prepared if need be!"

When they had turned the corner of the buildi