“Lord, I will tell all.  I am dying!”

It was a strange tale of misplaced loyalty and gratitude, but it was peculiarly oriental.  And when they learned that Umballa was hidden in his own house and the king in a hut outside the city, they knew that God was just, whatever His prophet’s name might be.  Before he died the majordomo explained the method of entering the secret chamber.

The quail and pheasant, the fruits and wine remained untouched.  The hall became deserted almost immediately.  To the king, first; to the king!  Then Umballa should pay his debt.

They found the poor king in the hut, in a pitiable condition.  He laughed and babbled and smiled and wept as they led him away.  But in the secret chamber which was to have held Umballa there was no living thing.

For Umballa had, at the departure of the majordomo, conceived a plan for rehabilitation so wide in its ramifications, so powerful and whelming, that nothing could stay it; once it was set in motion.  The priests, the real rulers of Asia; the wise and patient gurus, who held the most compelling of all scepters, superstition!  Double fool that he had been, not to have thought of this before!  He knew that they hated Ramabai, who in religion was an outcast and a pariah, who worshiped but a single God whom none had ever seen, of whom no idol had been carved and set up in a temple.

Superstition!

Umballa threw off his robes and donned his candy seller’s tatters, left the house without being questioned by the careless guard, and sought the chief temple.

Superstition!

To cow the populace, to bring the troops to the mark, with threats of curses, famine, plague, eternal damnation!  Superstition!  And this is why Ramabai and his followers found an empty chamber.

CHAPTER XXII

BEHIND THE CURTAINS

In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.  The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.  A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze—­an exploring bat.  A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.  The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.

In the temple itself there was a handful of tardy worshipers.  The heat of the candles, the smell of the eternal lotus flower and smoking incense sticks made even the huge vault stifling.  Many of the idols were bejeweled or patched with beaten gold leaf, and many had been coveted by wandering white men, who, when their endeavor became known, disappeared mysteriously and were never more known in the haunts of men.