“You say well,” said Atma thoughtfully, “it is not new to me.  Thoughts for which I cannot account have been borne in upon my soul, waking and sleeping, by riverside or on mountain height, and I know and believe that he who would find God must close his eyes and his ears.”

“And the soul,” said Bertram, “that knows an infallible guide, be it voice of other man, or of his own reason, or volume of mystery, or whatever it be, that soul walks not by faith.  But why speak of a soul finding God?  The soul of man must be first found of Him, and it seems to me that until thus adopted no soul would prefer faith to knowledge—­thus much might we learn of Nawab Khan.”

And as they returned to the Palace, they continued this grave discourse, lamenting the sadness and sin of the world, and Atma, greatly moved, told that his life’s purpose, of which he might not fully speak, involved the conquest of evil and the redemption of the world by means whose greatness was worthy of the end.  And Bertram, sometimes assenting, often silent, hoped that at last, by each and all means employed by man, the whole world might be redeemed.  He was a Christian and devout, but he, too, desired to redeem the world.  His dream was one with Atma’s.  But the highest dreams are soonest dissolved, for the dispelling of illusions and breaking of idols is God’s benison, and is given soonest to those whom He approves.

CHAPTER XII.

There was fear of Evil Influence, pestilence and death in the country, and as the time of new moon drew near, propitiatory sacrifices were prepared.  A number of the courtiers of Golab Singh declared their intention of visiting sacred places and offering gifts.  Many who abjured these rites went also as to a festival.  On such an errand many supposed Lal Singh to be gone, although his prolonged absence led to unspoken surmisings among those who looked on him as the emissary of a political party, but at the close of a fierce contest men are chary of speech, and none spoke his suspicions.  At all events he had disappeared the day after the events of our last chapter.

Atma resolved to take this opportunity of attempting to communicate with the Maharanee, and intimated his purpose of resorting to the Well designated by Nama.  It was of course on the southern border of Kashmir, and entailed a long pilgrimage.  Bertram, tired of splendour, would accompany him.  Together they set out on horseback, followed by attendants who bore gifts for the Shrine.  They rode forward, leaving their retinue, and conversed as was their wont.

Atma fain would know why his friend so devoutly went on pilgrimage.

“I suppose,” said Bertram laughing, “that the Nawab would tell you, though the ass goes to Mecca he becomes not a pilgrim thereby.  But Atma Singh, if I mistake not, your own creed does not recognize the rites we are to witness; I ask, then, in my turn, why, since our mission is meaningless, does your choice of a destination lead us to the most distant of the sacred places?”