troubled. Engelhardt's words about
preserving the equilibrium of the universe had taken possession of
his mind. He had been considering the matter, and after long and
inexorable reflection he had come to the decision that there was only
one way--only one--

Just then Michael Petroff came up to him.

"Will you permit me to disturb you?" he asked politely, taking off his
gray English traveling cap. "I am Captain Michael Petroff."

The "Rajah" gazed at him earnestly with his glowing dark eyes.

"What do you want," he asked quietly.

Michael Petroff smiled. "I want to tell you a piece of good news," he
began. "This morning I said to the Doctor: 'Now, Doctor, haven't you
anything for me today--?'"--And beaming with joy, he went on to tell
the same story that he had told a dozen times that day.

The "Rajah" listened in silence, looking thoughtfully at Michael
Petroff. Then he said: "I should like to have a word with you."

"I am quite at your service!"

The "Rajah's" eyes wandered over the garden slowly and with dignity.

"Shall we go over to that bench?"

"With pleasure."

The "Rajah" sat down, and with a condescending gesture invited Michael
Petroff to be seated also.

"I see you writing all the time--" he began,

Michael Petroff lifted his cap. "Michael Petroff, Captain in the
Russian army," he said politely.

The "Rajah" looked at him and went on, with his usual quiet pride:
"Since you write, you must understand. And you surely must have gained
knowledge of men and things from sacred books, which are closed to the
rest of us, and you must have passed your life in meditation, according
to the rules of your caste. Very well. Then explain to me the words of
the Fakir, who, according to the inscrutable decision of the Gods, is
bearing up the universe on his shoulders. Speak!"

Michael Petroff smiled, highly flattered, and bowed to the "Rajah." He
did not really understand all that the "Rajah" said, but he perceived
that his words expressed respect and admiration. He felt that it was in
some way his duty to confide to the "Rajah" the secret of his paper,
but to his own surprise he asked: "You mean our friend Engelhardt?"

"You heard what he said?"

"Yes."

"Then speak!" It appeared that the "Rajah" had not forgotten a single
word that Engelhardt had said to Dr. Maerz. Michael Petroff, on the
contrary, remembered almost nothing, and so fell into the "Rajah's"
disfavor.

"Pardon me!" he apologized. "So m