"You mean the British would depose him?"

"Depose him root and branch. Then Utirtipa would be next in line.
He's a decent fellow. He'd be sure of the nomination, and he'd make
a good ruler."

"Well?"

"I want to know what the Princess Yasmini has to do with it."

"It seems to me you're not telling secrets, but asking favors for nothing."

"Not for nothing--not for nothing! There's positively nothing that I won't do!"

"In return for--?"

"Sure information as to what is going on."

"Which you think I can get for you?"

"I'm positive! You're such an extraordinary, woman. I'm pretty sure it
all hinges on the treasure I told you about the other day. Whoever gets
first hold of that holds all the trumps. I'd like to get it myself. That would
be the making of me, politically speaking. If Gungadhura should get
it he'd ruin himself with intrigue in less than a year, but he might cause
my ruin in the process. If the local priests should get it--and that's likeliest,
all things considered--there'd be red ruin for miles around; money and
the church don't mix without blood-letting, and you can't unscramble
that omelet forever afterward. I confess I don't know how to checkmate