"We were keepers of the treasure once years ago, before the English came.
There came a time when the reigning rajah deceived us by a trick,
including murder; and ever since the English took control the priests
have had less and less authority. There has been no chance to--
to bring any--to put pressure--to reestablish our rights. Nevertheless,
our rights in the matter were never surrendered."

"What do you mean by that exactly?"

"The English are now the real rulers of Sialpore."

Samson nodded. That was a significant admission, coming from a
Brahman priest.

"They should claim the treasure. But they can not claim it without knowing
where it is. The priests of Jinendra are entitled to their half."

"You mean you are willing that my government should take half the treasure,
provided the priests of Jinendra get the other half of it?"

The priest moved his head and his lips in a way that might be taken
to mean anything.

"If you know where the treasure is, dig it up," said Samson, "and you
shall have your answer!"

Yasmini in the heat of excitement had called Samson an idiot, but he
was far from being that, as she knew as well as any one. He judged
in that moment that if Jinendra's priest knew really where the treasure
was, he would never have come to drive a bargain for the half of it,