ears--your secret council.
I knew it existed; never could prove it," said King.

"Can you prove it now?" asked the Mahatma with even more visible
annoyance.

"I think so. You'll have to help me."

"I?"

"You or the Princess!" King answered. "Shall I join you or her?"

"Thou fool! There was a sheep who asked, 'Which shall I run with, tiger
or wolf?' Consider that a moment!"

King showed him the courtesy of considering it, and was silent for
perhaps two minutes, during which the mahout judged it opportune to
whine forth his own demands. But nobody took any notice of him.

"You seem check-mate to me," King said at last. "You daren't kill my
friend or me. You daren't make away with us. You daren't make away with
the Princess. The Princess and several of her women know enough of your
secret to be able to force your hand; so do my friend Mr. Ramsden and I.
Mr. Ramsden and I have seen sufficient in that madhouse underneath the
temple to compel a Government inquiry. Is it peace or war, Mahatma? Will
you introduce me to your secret council, or will you fight to a finish?"

"I would rather not fight with you, my young friend."

"Introduce me, then," King answered, smiling.

"You don't know what you ask--what that involves."

"But I propose to know," said King.

The Mahatma never seemed to mind acknowledging defeat.

"I see you are determined," he said quietly. "Determination, my young
friend, combined with ignorance, is a murderer nine times out of ten.
However, you do not understand that, and you are determined, I have no
authority to make such terms as you propose, but I will submit the
matter to those whom you desire to meet. Does that satisfy you?"

King looked immensely dissatisfied.

"I would rather be your friend than your enemy," he answered.

"So said light and darkness each to the other when they first met! You
shall have your answer presently. In the mean time will you try not to
make my task even more difficult than it already is?"

King laughed uncomfortably.

"Mahatma, I like you well enough, but no terms until I have your answer!
Sorry! I'd like to be friends with you."

"The pity of it is that though you are honestly determined you are bound
to fail," the Mahatma answered; and at that he dismissed the whole
subject with a motion of one hand, and turned toward Ismail, who was
lurking about in the shadows like a wolf.

The Mahatma sent the man to the door of the _panch mahal_ with a message