be found--as it might be--somewhere hidden on that little plot of ground
with a palace on it on our side of the river, our problem would be fairly easy.
There'd be some way of--ah--making sure the fund would be properly
administered. But if Gungadhura found it in the hills, and kept quiet
about it as he doubtless would, he'd have every sedition-monger in
India in his pay within a year, and the consequences might be very serious."

"Who is the other man--the one the British didn't choose?" asked Tess.

"A very decent chap named Utirupa--quite a sportsman. He was thought
too young at the time the selection was made; but he knew enough to
get out of the reach of the new maharajah immediately. They have a
phrase here, you know, 'to hate like cousins.' They're rather remote
cousins, but they hate all the more for that."

"So you'd rather that the treasure stayed buried?"

"Not exactly. But he tossed ash from the end of his cigar to illustrate
offhandedness. "I think I could promise ten per cent. of it to whoever
brought us exact information of its whereabouts before the maharajah
could lay his hands on it."

"I'll tell that to my husband."

"Do."

"Of course, being in a way in partnership with Gungadhura, he might--"

"Let me give you one word of caution, if I may without offense. We--
our government--wouldn't recognize the right of--of any one to take that