ur own brain, Sam. I fancy."

"No, indeed," protested Sam, earnestly, "I do not jest. The Bahee Sahib
is a wealthy young Mahratta chieftain, who has been consistently loyal
to us, and who entertains mixed parties of Englishmen and natives in
European style, and does his best to break down the barriers of
prejudice and caste. He has been hospitably received on board the Great
Eastern, it seems, and is now getting up a grand affair in honour of
Captain Halpin and his officers. So, come along."

"But, my dear Sam, you forget, we have not a dress suit between us, and
in the present condition of our finances it would be folly to--"

"Fiddlesticks, Robin. We have only to make a couple of turbans out of
bath-towels and a few peacock feathers; turn Persian shawls, which we
can borrow, into kilts, put on slippers, bare our legs and paint them
with red and blue stripes crossed, to indicate something of Scottish
Highland origin, anoint our noses with blue bear's-grease, and--"

"Nonsense, Sam; be serious if you can, and consider what we are really
to do."

"You're so impatient, Robin. The thing has all been considered for us.
We have nothing to do but accept our fate. Frank Hedley, who is exactly
your size, has a dress suit which he will lend you, and a friend of his,
who happens to be exactly and conveniently my size, has also a suit, and
is equally accommodating. Come now, for time presses, and I am told the
Bahee's wife loves punctuality--but she's liberal-minded like her
husband, and makes allowance for laziness, especially in hot weather.
She is a regular trump, it seems, and quite amazed our electricians,
during her visit to the big ship, by her intelligent comprehension of
all they explained to her. She is an accomplished equestrian, and
dresses as a native princess, with a huge ornament in her nose, but does
not disdain to mingle with English ladies in the Bombay Rotten Row, and
uses a European saddle."

The account which Sam had thus slightly sketched was more than borne out
by the facts that evening. The young Rajah's reception-rooms, blazing
with light, were decorated with all that the wealth of fancy could
suggest or the wealth of precious metal procure, while music and perfume
filled the air and intoxicated the senses.

For some time Sam and Robin moved slowly about in the crowded rooms,
finding themselves rubbing shoulders, now with Eastern aristocrats in
richest costume and glittering jewels, now wi