And these hours I did feel to be the longest I had ever spent, such was my terror lest the viscount’s absence should be observed, or some chance lead to his discovery among my goods. I was fain to comfort myself with the remembrance of the great Seva Gi himself, who with his son escaped safely in this manner, but ’twas extreme difficult for me to show myself calm and careless until after I had bid farewell to Mr Kidder and his fellows (Mr Spender taunting me at the last with leaving my jail-bird to his jailers again, spite of all my fair words), and also to our kind friend the doctor, and to the Armenians that had been our _druggermen_ about the city. But at the last I was able to set forth, having my banner carried before me very seemly, and I riding upon a fine horse, with my _palenkeen_ awaiting my disposition if I so pleased, and so went through the city and out at the gate with great pomp. Now I had had some fear lest the officers of the gate should desire to look inside the _palenkeen_, but even so I hoped to beguile them, since they should find therein only my stuff, though this should have frustrated my design with respect to the bearers, who I desired should believe that there was a sick man inside. But as it so chanced, we were let pass without any molestation, and travelling at a fair pace, I riding beside the _palenkeen_ as though to cheer him that was therein, came to the rest-house before the great heat came on. And here I found the baskets and other packages all piled up on the _veranda_, and Darah and the _cooleys_ awaiting my pleasure. But having had my _palenkeen_ carried into the house, I dismissed the _cooleys_ for to take their noontide sleep, as also those that were come with me, and with my own three men released the viscount from his wattled prison, and allowed him to walk up and down inside the house, Loll Duss keeping guard the while. But when the time was come that we should start again, we put into the basket those things that had been in the _palenkeen_, and the viscount lay down therein in their place, the blinds being close drawn, for ’twas of chiefest importance that the hired _cooleys_ from Agra should not see the face of their passenger, and recognise the _Ferringhee_. And having made this fresh disposition of our affairs, we started again on our way with much cheerfulness.