"O Somwar Mal, you are a spoil-sport!" cried Gerrard. "Do you not see that all the hospitality I showed to the Rajah--all my faithfulness to my guests--now goes for nothing?" The Munshi regarded him with mild reproach. "Nay, sahib, the meanest of men may not fail in hospitality--it is a duty incumbent upon all; but the power of foreseeing events is a direct gift from Heaven, and will move the Rajah to desire greatly the linking of his fortunes with your honour's. There is also another small matter in which this slave has to-night done what he could to add a stone to the pillar of your honour's prosperity." "I wish you had asked me first. But let me know what obligations you have undertaken for me." "The youth, the son of shame, dared to inquire in confidence what were the weaknesses of the Protector of the Poor!" said the Munshi, in an awful whisper. Gerrard fell in with the humour of the occasion. "And of course you swore that I had none?" Somwar Mal hung his head. "Alas, sahib! your honour bade me tell him the truth." "You are right, Munshi-ji. Truth is great, and shall prevail. And which of my hidden faults have you discovered to the eyes of the world?" "Sahib, your honour's credit is safe in the hands of your slave. He bade the youth name one after the other such things as have brought to ruin many wise men, and then assured him that not one of all these had ever touched your honour. But of that one thing which he has observed----" "This becomes interesting," said Gerrard. "Speak." "Nay, sahib, it is for this slave to lay the hand of respect upon the mouth of discretion." "Not when the mouth of command issues an order. Say on." "If it is an order, sahib----?" An inexorable nod answered him, and he went on. "Sahib, it has sometimes seemed to the humblest of your servants, who asks forgiveness for presuming to raise his eyes above your feet, that your honour was more occupied in seeking the right way to do a thing than in doing at once what required doing." "Lack of decision? I see, and you told the youth this?" Grieved surprise was in Somwar Mal's tone. "I, sahib? I told him that the besetting sin of the Protector of the Poor was a hasty judgment in sometimes acting without thought!" "Oh, go away, you old humbug!" shouted Gerrard violently, and Somwar Mal retired proudly smiling, while his employer laughed undisturbed.