will
take place in the morning."

"But you have forgotten--the murder!" gasped Gerrard.

"I have forgotten nothing, but things are settled in the approved
diplomatic style, by concessions on both sides. There is just about
time to tell you--but of course you understand that you are the moving
spirit throughout; I am merely your mouthpiece. Sher Singh consents
that there shall be no suttee, and you agree not to interfere with the
funeral--in other words, to make no inquiry into the cause of the
Rajah's death."

"In other words, to condone an atrocious crime."

"My dear Hal, what did you propose doing? If you were thinking of
laying violent hands on the corpse--but that would be absurd. The
Brahmins would tear us to pieces with their bare hands. You know we
should defile it and bring indelible disgrace on Kharrak Singh if we
even approached too near. A post-mortem? Who do you suggest should
perform it? Moraes is about the figure for the job, ain't he? Show a
little common-sense."

"If the thing is so impossible, why should Sher Singh make an important
concession to avoid it?"

"Because it would raise nasty rumours if we made the attempt, and
getting rid of us would prejudice him with Antony. Remember, you have
no evidence. If Partab Singh was murdered, who is going to prove that
Sher Singh did it? You secure an important advantage at the cost of
giving up the right to make a gigantic fool of yourself."

"But who is to see that Sher Singh keeps his word and does not arrange
a suttee?"

"You and I, of course. We attend the funeral, naturally, with all our
sowars, to show due honour to the deceased. By the bye, that reminds
me, we should be rather an easy prey after firing the volleys. The
front rank had better load with ball, and reserve their fire, and only
the rear rank fire with blank. In the smoke and noise it won't be
noticed that only half the men have fired, and we shan't be defenceless
if Sher Singh takes it into his head to let the army loose on us."

"But you seem to be allowing Sher Singh to take the lead in all the
funeral arrangements, which is exactly the matter in dispute."

"To be sure. There comes in the second concession. We, with the
bodyguard and our own men, are to occupy the palace enclosure to-night,
and watch over the safety of the corpse and the women, in return for
allowing Sher Singh to walk next to young Kharrak Singh in the
procession, and guide his hand when he fi