ed end of my waistband, so that he could
tell me the price he was willing to pay by the secret pressure on my
fingers that would reveal to me the value he had set on the stones
without disclosing it to the rival traders seated at our side.

"But to my surprise his hand remained absolutely impassive, giving no
response to my movement of inquiry. Then, looking again into the
banian's eyes, I detected there a strange menacing look that greatly
perturbed me. As his fingers were still limp over mine, signifying
unmistakably that there was no willingness to buy, I hastened to
withdraw my hand, and, retying my little package, restored it to its
place of security. After I had adjusted my waistband, again we spoke
some tittle-tattle of the hour before I arose and, with a courteous
salaam, took my departure.

"Glancing back from a short distance, I saw the three banians in close
colloquy and eagerly gesticulating. Thoroughly alarmed now, and feeling
sure that they had recognized the blue diamonds as the spoil of one of
their temples, I made all speed to regain the caravanserai where my
horse had been bestowed, and, offering no explanation of my hurried
departure, immediately rode from the city. Gaining the open country, I
gave rein to my horse, although I took the precaution of making a detour
before I finally struck out in the direction of my home.

"Before nightfall of the succeeding day I had regained my house, and had
replaced the detached stones on the necklace by the little golden hooks
that formed their fastenings. With all speed I quitted the presence of
the Ganapati, vowing that I would make no more attempt for the present
to dispose of the treasure hidden in his entrails.

"A full month had elapsed, and I had ceased to give my exclusive
thoughts to the necklace of blue diamonds; for the harvest time was
approaching, and I had to make arrangements for the garnering of my
crops. My house was in the open country, half a league or so from the
nearest village. It was the evening hour, and I was seated in the
vestibule of the outer courtyard, having just dismissed the head reaper
with whom I had come to terms for the services of himself and his
fellows in the fields of grain.

"Glancing along the road I descried what I took to be a band of
travelling yogis, in rags, unkempt, some hobbling on crutches. But as I
was accustomed to treat with contempt such Hindu beggars, I gave no
special heed to their approach.

"All of a