The Rajput nodded.  It was all over town that Yasmini had been closeted with the commissioner on the morning of her recent escape.  She herself had deliberately sown the seeds of that untruth.

“So the commissioner sahib and the maharajah sahib had a conference—­”

The Rajput nodded again.  It was common knowledge, too that the commissioner and Gungadhura had had a rather stormy interview the day before; and it was none of the corporal’s privilege to know that all they had argued about was the ill-treatment of prisoners in the Sialpore jail.

“—­It was agreed at the conference that if the princess can be proved mad, then the maharajah sahib may do as he’s minded about sending her away into the hills.  If she’s not mad, then he’s to give her her liberty.  Do you understand, you dunderhead?”

“Hah!  I understand.  But why at night?  Why not the maharajah sahib’s signature in his own writing?”

“Son of incomprehension!  Does the maharajah sahib wish still more scandal than already has been by permitting such a visit in the daytime?  Strike me everlasting dumb if he hasn’t had more than enough already!  Does he want the responsibility?  Does he wish the British to say afterward that it was all the maharajah’s doing?  No, you ass!  At the conference be agreed solely on condition that the commissioner sahib should sign the letter and relieve his highness of all blame in case of a verdict of madness.  And it was decided to send an American, lest there be too much talk among the British themselves.  Now, do you understand?”

“Hah!  I understand.  If all this is true the matter is easy.  I will send one of the guard with that letter to the maharajah sahib.  He will write his name on it and send it back, and all is well.”

“Suit yourself!” sneered Tom Tripe.  “The maharajah sahib is with his dancing girls this minute.  What happened to the last man who interrupted his amusements?”

The Rajput hesitated.  The answer to that question could be seen any day near the place they call the Old Gate, where beggars sit in rags.

“Shall I offer him money?” whispered Tess.

“For God’s sake, no, lady!  The man’s a decent soldier.  He’d refuse it and we’d all be in the apple-cart!  Leave him to me.”

He turned again on the Rajput.

“You know who I am, don’t you?  You know it’s my duty to see that the palace guards attend to business, eh?  That’s why I’m here tonight.  His highness particularly warned me to see that if anything unusual wanted doing it should get done.  If you want to question my authority you’ll have it out with me before his highness in the morning first thing.”

The Rajput obviously wavered.  Everybody knew that the first thing in the morning was no good time to appear on charges before a man who spent his nights as Gungadhura did.

“Who is to enter?  A man and a woman?”