in his pouched waist-sash and threw him a coin.

"Be it requited to thee in thy next life, O Shrine-builder," murmured
the beggar, and he squatted down on the ground a little further on.

He saw Shiraz come out and stand at the door, preparatory to setting
forth to the Mosque. Saw him lock it carefully and proceed slowly and
with great dignity through the crowd. He passed close to the beggar, but
took no notice of him, lifting his garments lest they should touch him,
and for this the beggar cursed him, to the entertainment of those who
listened.

Blue shadows like wraiths of smoke enfolded the street at the far end,
and the clatter and noise grew stronger as the houses filled after the
day of toil. In one of the prosperous dwellings a gramophone was set
near the window, and the song floated out over the street, the
music-hall chorus from the merchant's house mingled in with the cry of
vendors hawking late wares at cheap prices.

A hundred years ago, except for the gramophone and an occasional
_gharry_, the street might have been the same. The same amber light that
held only a short while after sunset, the same blue misty shadows, the
same concourse of colour and caste, the same talk of food, and the same
idle, loitering and inquisitive crowd.

Coryndon watched it with eyes of love. Half of his nature belonged to
this place and was part of it. He understood their idleness, their small
pleasures, their kindness and their cruelty; and though the dominance of
the white race was strongest in him, he loved these half-brothers of his
because he understood them.

Two young _Hypongyi_ came past where he sat, and as they had nothing
else to give, gave him their blessing and a look of pity.

"He did ill in his former life," said the elder of the two. "The balance
is adjusted thus, and only thus."

"Great is the justice of the Law," replied the other, rubbing his shaven
crown reflectively, and then some noise of music or laughter attracted
them and they ran up the street to see what it might be, for they were
young, and there was no reason why they should not enjoy simple
pleasures.

Coryndon knew that Leh Shin would certainly go to the Joss House that
night, and he knew that upon these occasions the Chinaman prayed long,
and that it would be dark before he entered the place of worship. For
another hour his time was free to watch the street, and without
attaching any particular consequence to the fact, he saw Mhtoon Pah