f-way.
They gave the message gravely, and rode slowly back. Half an hour
later there arose a great shouting and blowing of trumpets inside
the walls, the royal gate was flung open, and the Maharajah
appeared, swaying in a blaze of silk and jewels upon an enormous
elephant with a painted trunk and trappings fringed in gold and
silver. Trumpeters and the crimson flag of Chita went before him;
Maun Rao and the other generals rode behind him; at his side sat
his bard, his poet laureate, with glowing eyes, speaking constantly
into his royal ear the glorious annals of his house. Colonel Starr
and his little suite met this wonderful cavalcade a quarter of a
mile from the city, and the Maharajah and the Colonel dismounted.
Whereupon the magnificent Rajput, in his diamond aigrettes and his
silken swathings, and the broad shouldered British officer, in his
Queen's red coat, solemnly kissed each other. They exchanged other
politenesses, spoke of the health of the Viceroy and of his 'good
friend' the Maharajah, and His Highness arranged a durbar to be
held in his hall of audience at two that afternoon, when he would
hear the desires of the British Raj.

Strangely enough, it occurred to nobody to wonder why the Maharajah
had so suddenly changed his mind. To nobody, that is, except Sonny
Sahib. He guessed the reason, and sitting all morning in a corner
of the Colonel's tent, as he had been told, he thought about it
very seriously. Once or twice he had to swallow a lump in his
throat to help him to think. The Maharajah's reason was that he
supposed that Sonny Sahib had told the English about Lalpore's
ammunition; and that, under the circumstances, was enough to bring
lumps into anybody's throat.

The Colonel was very busy, and took no notice of him, except to say
that he should have some dinner. He heard talk of the Maharajah's
visit and of the durbar, and he revolved that too. When the time
came, Sunni had concluded that he also must go to the durbar. He
said so to Colonel Starr.

'Nonsense!' said the Colonel. 'And yet,' he added reflectively,
'it might be useful to have you there. I daresay you will be safe
enough. You are not afraid?'

Sunni said he was not afraid. So they all went, and the Maharajah,
rising from his ivory chair, received them with much state and
ceremony. He frowned when he saw Sunni, but said nothing. His
Highness felt that he was not in a position to resent anything, and
thought bitterly