with their lives their master's secrets. Three were really too many to
be let into such a secret; but it had needed two to hold Malati properly
while the third experimented on the toe-nail, and Yasmini was much
stronger than Malati; so he must chance it and take three.

The only remaining problem did not trouble him much. The palace
guards were his own men, and were therefore not likely to question
his right to ignore the first law of purdah that forbids the crossing of
a woman's threshold, especially after dark, unless she is your property.
Besides, they all knew already what sort of prowl-by-night their master
was, and laws, especially such laws, were, made for other people, not
for maharajahs.





Chapter Seven




A bloody enlisted man--that's me,
A peg in the officer's plan--maybe.
Drunk on occasion, Disgrace to a nation
And proper societee.
Yet I've a notion the sky--pure blue
Ain't more essential than I--clear through.
I'm a man. I can think.
In the chain of eternal