company from his body before many days are over."

But people continued eagerly to press forward to read the placard,--
traders in long coats and turbans, sowars with shields and spears, women
and children,--people in every costume, and people in no costume at all
except the dirty cloths around their loins or over their shoulders, and
the ever-present turban on their heads. Reginald, knowing the agitation
into which the announcement would throw the rajah, was afraid that he
would betray himself, so, swaggering on according to the character he
had assumed, he forced the crowd to make way for the caravan; which at
length got clear, and was able to proceed onward to the house which the
merchant was wont to occupy during his stay in Allahapoor.

So far the adventure had been successful, and the rajah took up his
lodgings in a room where he was not likely to be discovered. The
difficulty, however, was to gain information. The next morning Hurdeo
Buksh was obliged to appear in public to make arrangements for the sale
of his goods, and was afraid of exciting suspicion should he be seen
visiting the rajah's hiding-place. Reginald was willing enough to try
and pick up information, but the rajah charged him on no account to do
so: his manners and mode of speaking would be sure to betray him. The
rajah had ordered his own dress to be brought to him, and he now put it
on, telling Reginald that he had come to the resolution of visiting his
palace as soon as darkness would allow of his passing through the
streets unobserved, and appealing to the loyalty of his guards,--who
would, he supposed, be found at their old quarters, the usurper, Mukund
Bhim, he had learned from the byraghee, still residing at his own
palace.

Reginald thought the attempt a hazardous one, but yet, as it was the
only scheme likely to succeed, he consented. After the rajah had told
him this, he was sauntering about in the gateway of the house, imitating
the manners of a sowar, when he caught sight of the mendicant slowly
approaching, asking alms of all he met. The man's little bleared eyes
twinkled as he came up to Reginald, whom he appeared at once to
recognise.

"You can be trusted, I see," said Reginald. "You will receive a
handsome reward if you faithfully perform the service I require of you."

"Say what it is, sahib, and you shall be obeyed," responded the
byraghee.

"To hasten forthwith to the spot where our friends lie concealed, and to