“That very young man is an old man,” said Duncan McClean, wiping his spectacles as he walked beside his daughter to the deep veranda where their chairs were side by side.  “He is a grown man.  He has come to man’s estate.  Look at the set of that pair of shoulders.  Mark his strength!”

“I expect any one of those Rajputs is physically stronger,” answered Rosemary, in no mood to praise any one.

“I was thinking of the strength of character he expresses rather than of his actual muscles,” said McClean.

“Bismillah!” Alwa was swearing behind the thick teak door that closed behind him and Cunningham and Mahommed Gunga.  “We have made a good beginning!  With the wolf in a trap, what has the goat to dread?  Howrah may chuckle himself to sleep!  And I—­I, too, by the beard of God’s prophet!—­I, too, may laugh, for, with Jaimihr under lock and key, what need is there to ride to the aid of a Hindoo Rajah?  I am free again!”

“Alwa-sahib!”

Cunningham had fixed him with those calm gray eyes of his, and Mahommed Gunga sat down on the nearest bench contented.  He could wait for what was coming now.  He recognized the blossoming of the plant that he had nursed through its growth so long.

“I listen,” answered Alwa.

“I represent the British Government.  I am the only servant of the Company within reach.  Do you realize that?”

“Yes, sahib.”

“I have no orders which entitle me to deal with any crisis such as this.  But, when my orders were given me, no such crisis was contemplated.  Therefore, on behalf of the Company, I assume full authority until such time as some one senior to me turns up to relieve me.  Is all that clear to you?”

“Yes, sahib.”

Mahommed Gunga went through considerable pantomime of being angry with a fly.  He found it necessary to conceal emotion in some way or other.  Alwa sat motionless and stared straight back at Cunningham.

“I understand, sahib,” he repeated.

“You are talking to me, then, on that understanding?”

“Most certainly, huzoor.”

“You can raise two thousand men?”

“Perhaps.”

“Say fifteen hundred?”

“Surely fifteen hundred.  Not a sabre less.”

“All horsed and armed?”

“Surely, bahadur.  Of what use would be a rabble?  I was speaking in terms of men able to fight, as one soldier to another.”

“Will you raise those men?”

“Of a truth, I must, sahib!” Alwa laughed.  “Jaimihr’s thousands will be in no mind to lie leaderless and let Howrah ride rough-shod over them!  They know his charity of old!  They will be here to claim their Prince within a day or two, and without my fifteen hundred how would I stand?  Surely, bahadur, I will raise my fifteen hundred.”

“Very well.  Now I will make you a proposal.  On behalf of the Company I offer you and your men pay at the rate paid to all irregular cavalry on a war basis.  In return, I demand your allegiance.”