the priests. Gungadhura I think I can manage, especially with your aid.
But I must have information."

"Is there any one else who'd be dangerous if he possessed the secret?"

"Anybody would be, except myself. Anybody else would begin playing
for political control with it, and there'd be no more peace on this side
of India for years. And now, this is what I want to say: The most dangerous
individual who could possibly get that treasure would be the Princess
Yasmini. The difficulty of dealing with her is that she's not above hiding
behind purdah (the veil), where no male man can reach her. There
are several women here whom I might interest in keeping an eye on her--
Tatum's wife, and Miss Bent, and Miss O'Hara, and the Goole sisters--
lots of 'em. But they'd all talk. And they'd all try to get influence for
their male connections on the strength of being in the know. But somehow,
Theresa, you're different."

"Mrs. Blaine, please."

"I know Tom Tripe thinks the world of you. I want you to find out for
me from him everything he knows about this treasure intrigue and
whatever's behind it."

"You think he'd tell me?"

"Yes. And I want you to make the acquaintance of the Princess Yasmini,
and find out from her if you can what the letters are that she writes to
Utirupa. You'll find the acquaintance interesting."

Tess crumpled a folded letter in her left hand.