The sash was raised, the curtain pulled back, and the Hindoo stepped into the room. He was almost naked, and his bare limbs shone with a coating of oil. He took one step forward, and looked up eagerly into the idol's face. Then a cry of despair escaped him. The stone for which he had travelled five thousand miles was not there. He had lost his caste. It could never be regained, since he had failed in his quest. Never again could he see his native land. Under the crushing blow he sank, a comatose heap, on the floor. The minutes passed, and Travers shifted uneasily behind the curtain. There were sounds from the garden--then approaching footsteps in the corridor. The door was flung open, and Lord Illingworth burst into the room, revolver in hand. The Duke of Strathpeffer followed with other guests, and some footmen. The Hindoo stared dully at them, but did not move. He was promptly seized. "The Pearl--where is it?" demanded Lord Illingworth. The Hindoo did not reply. Lord Illingworth pointed to the empty socket, and repeated the question, but the Hindoo merely shook his head. "Search him," said Lord Illingworth. He was searched, but, of course, nothing was found. Lord Illingworth stood over him. "Where is the Pearl?" he thundered, but again the Hindoo shook his head. "Bring in the other man," said Lord Illingworth. The Baboo entered, limp and crestfallen, in charge of two stablemen. A boy carried a silk hat and some winter clothing. "Ask him what he has done with the Pearl," said the peer. Ramma Lal put the question. "I have not got it. It was not here when I came." The Baboo repeated this to Lord Illingworth. "It is a lie," he replied. "It was here an hour ago. I saw it myself." "The _sahib_ knows that thou liest," said Ramma Lal to his friend. "Tell him a finer tale." But the Hindoo only protested his innocence. "What does he say?" demanded Lord Illingworth. "He says," replied the facile Baboo, "that no sooner had he taken the Pearl than there was the flash of fire and much smoke. When it cleared away the stone had vanished. Doubtless Agni the god had come for his own." Lord Illingworth blazed with fury. "He has swallowed it," he said. "We shall have to cut him open." Ramma Lal translated this terrific threat. The Hindoo gave a yell. Despair lent him strength. With a serpentine twist he slid from the grasp of one of his captors and knocked up the arm of the other. The window was still open. He sprang through it into the darkness of the night. Lord Illingworth ran to the window, fired blindly, and then rushed from the room. The others followed. Only the Baboo, his two captors, and the boy with the clothes remained. "Come along," said one of the grooms. "Stay for one moment, I beseech you," said Ramma Lal, "and let me worship Agni the god." "None of yer blarney," returned the man. But the other, who was of a romantic temperament, said, "Wot's the odds? Let the heathen do it if he wants."