"We shall see about that. I gather from what you said in your letter last week that you know where to lay hands upon a sum of money sufficient to secure the loyalty of the army?" "Yes, but to get at it I must be inside the palace enclosure, and even then I shall need your help." "On the whole, my young friend,"--Charteris's voice was didactic in the extreme,--"you seem to me to have contrived to surround yourself with the materials for a very pretty row. Be thankful that you have at hand the services of a person of experience and knowledge of the world--myself, sir,"--with a resounding thump on his chest,--"to extricate you from a situation of uncommon difficulty and delicacy for one so young. You place yourself unreservedly in my hands?" "Not a bit of it!" said Gerrard, struggling up, only to be pressed down again by Charteris's grip upon his shoulders. "My dear Hal, you do. There's no other course open to you. Sher Singh has the big battalions, and though I admire your design of capturing Agpur with no weapons but cool cheek and shaky promises, I have a mean objection to adding my bones to the heap that would be the result. It is eminently a case for negociation, and here is the negociator. You stay where you are, and get ready to ride into Agpur to-night, 'pride in your port, defiance in your eye,' while I try my blandishments upon that nasty uncertain beggar, Sher Singh." Gerrard obeyed perforce, for the effort to stand had brought back the feeling of giddiness, and Charteris clanked off among the trees. Presently Badan Hazari came very quietly, and peered round a trunk to see whether his commander was awake. Gerrard called to him. "Heaven-born!" said the Granthi, saluting. "I have ventured to disturb the repose of your honour at the request of Komadan Rukn-ud-din." Gerrard started. "Bring him here," he said. "What is it?" "They are trying to corrupt the guard, sahib," and Rukn-ud-din confirmed the assertion. Since the halt, old Sarfaraz Khan had been in and out among the men, making them lavish offers if they would forsake the Rani and come over to the side of Sher Singh. "What has he offered them?" asked Gerrard. "The plunder of the _tosha khana_[1] in the palace, sahib." "And that is all he has to offer, and they must share it with the whole army? Tell them that in Kharrak Singh Rajah's name I promise them such a reward for their fidelity that they would pass by the _tosha khana_ with contempt if it were thrown open to them." The Mohammedan's eyes glittered. "How shall I make them believe so wonderful a thing, sahib?" "I cannot speak more particularly here. But you may give them my word it is so."