“If it should get to Samson’s cars that he and I are married, that would be the end of his chance of the throne of Sialpore.  Samson is English of the English.  He would oppose to the end the nomination of a maha-rajah, whose wife has notions of her own—­as I am known to have!  They like him—­ my husband—­because he plays good polo, and will bet with them, and can play cricket; and because he seems to follow no special line of politics.  But if it were known he had a clever wife—­me for wife—­they would have none of him!  I shall be a surprise for them when the die is cast!”

Tess was in almost daily communication with Dick, for, what with Tom Tripe and Sita Ram and about a dozen other sworn accomplices, Yasmini had messages coming and going all the time.  Camels used to arrive long after dark, and letters were brought in, smelly with the sweat of loyal riders who had hidden them from too inquisitive police.  Most of them carried back a scribbled word for Dick.  But he said nothing about the treasure in his curt, anonymous, unsigned replies, being nervous about sending messages at all.

Only, when in one letter he mentioned digging in another place, and Tess read the sentence aloud, Yasmini squealed with delight.  The next day her own advices confirmed the hint, Sita Ram sending a long account of new developments and adding that “Samson sahib is much exercised in mind about it.”

“All goes well!” Yasmini belled in her golden voice.  “Samson has seen the hidden meaning of my letter!  If I had told him bluntly where the treasure is, he would have laughed and forgotten it!  But because he thinks he reads the secret of my mind, he flatters himself and falls into the trap!  Now we have Samson caught, and all is well!”

“It would be a very canny person who could read the secret of your mind, I should say!” laughed Tess.

“I am as simple as the sunlight!” Yasmini answered honestly.  “It is Samson who is dark, not I.”

Yasmini began making ready for departure, giving a thousand orders to dependents she could trust.

“At the polo game,” she asked Tess, “when the English ask questions as to where you have been, and what you saw, what will you tell them?”

“Why not the truth?  Samson expressly asked me to cultivate your acquaintance.”

“Splendid!  Tell them you traveled on camel-back by night across the desert with me!  By the time they have believed that we will think of more to add to it!  We return by elephant to Sialpore together, timing our arrival for the polo game.  There we separate.  You watch the game together with your husband.  I shall be in a closed carriage—­part of the time.  I shall be there all the time, but I don’t think you will see me.”

“But you say they have rifled your palace.  Where will you sleep?” Tess asked.

“At your house on the hill!”

“But that is in Gungadhura’s territory.  Aren’t you afraid of him?”