A groom came round the corner.  Colonel Creighton raised his voice, speaking in Urdu.  ’Very good, Mahbub Ali, but what is the use of telling me all those stories about the pony?  Not one pice more than three hundred and fifty rupees will I give.’

‘The Sahib is a little hot and angry after riding,’ the horse-dealer returned, with the leer of a privileged jester.  ’Presently, he will see my horse’s points more clearly.  I will wait till he has finished his talk with the Padre.  I will wait under that tree.’

‘Confound you!’ The Colonel laughed.  ’That comes of looking at one of Mahbub’s horses.  He’s a regular old leech, Padre.  Wait, then, if thou hast so much time to spare, Mahbub.  Now I’m at your service, Padre.  Where is the boy?  Oh, he’s gone off to collogue with Mahbub.  Queer sort of boy.  Might I ask you to send my mare round under cover?’

He dropped into a chair which commanded a clear view of Kim and Mahbub Ali in conference beneath the tree.  The Padre went indoors for cheroots.

Creighton heard Kim say bitterly:  ’Trust a Brahmin before a snake, and a snake before an harlot, and an harlot before a Pathan, Mahbub Ali.’

‘That is all one.’  The great red beard wagged solemnly.  ’Children should not see a carpet on the loom till the pattern is made plain.  Believe me, Friend of all the World, I do thee great service.  They will not make a soldier of thee.’

‘You crafty old sinner!’ thought Creighton.  ’But you’re not far wrong.  That boy mustn’t be wasted if he is as advertised.’

‘Excuse me half a minute,’ cried the Padre from within, ’but I’m gettin’ the documents in the case.’

’If through me the favour of this bold and wise Colonel Sahib comes to thee, and thou art raised to honour, what thanks wilt thou give Mahbub Ali when thou art a man?’

’Nay, nay!  I begged thee to let me take the Road again, where I should have been safe; and thou hast sold me back to the English.  What will they give thee for blood-money?’

‘A cheerful young demon!’ The Colonel bit his cigar, and turned politely to Father Victor.

’What are the letters that the fat priest is waving before the Colonel?  Stand behind the stallion as though looking at my bridle!’ said Mahbub Ali.

’A letter from my lama which he wrote from Jagadhir Road, saying that he will pay three hundred rupees by the year for my schooling.’

‘Oho!  Is old Red Hat of that sort?  At which school?’

‘God knows.  I think in Nucklao.’

’Yes.  There is a big school there for the sons of Sahibs — and half-Sahibs.  I have seen it when I sell horses there.  So the lama also loved the Friend of all the World?’

‘Ay; and he did not tell lies, or return me to captivity.’

’Small wonder the Padre does not know how to unravel the thread.  How fast he talks to the Colonel Sahib!’ Mahbub Ali chuckled.  ’By Allah!’ the keen eyes swept the veranda for an Instant — ’thy lama has sent what to me looks like a note of hand.  I have had some few dealings in hoondis.  The Colonel Sahib is looking at it.’