"Why do you not go to England?" he continued. "There every woman would throw herself at your feet. They make much of the Hindu students, the sons of fat _bunniahs_ and shopkeepers in Calcutta, because they think them all Indian princes. For you who really are one they would do anything." The Rajah sat up furious and dashed his glass down on the tray so violently that it shivered to atoms. "Go to England? Have I not tried to?" he cried. "But every time I ask, the Viceroy refuses me permission. I, a rajah, the son of rajahs, must beg leave like a servant from a man whose grandfather was a nobody--and be refused. May his womenkind be dishonoured! May his grave be defiled!" He filled another glass and emptied it before continuing. "But, I tell you, I want this girl. I must have her. You must get her for me. Can you not carry her off and bring her here? You can have all the money you want to bribe any one. You said there are only two white men on the garden. I will send you a hundred soldiers." Chunerbutty looked alarmed. He had no wish to be dragged into such a mad proceeding as to attempt to carry off an Englishwoman by force, and in a place where he was well known. For the girl in question was Noreen Daleham. The Rajah had seen her a few months before at a _durbar_ or reception of native notables held by the Lieutenant Governor of Eastern Bengal, and been fired with an insane and unholy passion for her. "Your Highness, it is impossible. Quite impossible. Do you not see that all the power of the _Sirkar_ (the Government) would be put forth to punish us? You would be deposed, and I--I would be sent to the convict settlement in the Andaman Islands, if I were not hanged." The Rajah abused the hated English, root and branch. But he was forced to admit that Chunerbutty was right. Open violence would ruin them. He sank back on the cushions, exhausted by his fit of anger. Draining his glass he filled it up again. Then he clapped his hands. A servant entered noiselessly on bare feet, bringing two full bottles of liqueur and fresh tumblers. There was little difficulty in anticipating His Highness's requirements. The _khitmagar_ removed the empty bottles and the broken glass and left the apartment. The Rajah drank again. The strong liqueur seemed to have no effect on him. Then he said: "Well, find a plan yourself. But I must get the girl." Chunerbutty pretended to think. Then he began to expose tentatively, as if it were an idea just come to him, a plan that he had conceived weeks before. "_Maharaj Sahib_, if I could make the girl my wife--" The Rajah half rose up and spluttered out furiously: "You dog, wouldst thou dare to rival me, to interfere between me and my desires?" The engineer hastened to pacify the angry man.