'Is it not enough?' he cried--not to his servant, for he had forgotten his presence--'is it not enough? Am I to be tortured for ever? I have tried this double life, and I cannot live it; I must choose to be one, and I choose to be myself. I am Tom Gregory. I am Grace's lover.' There was a pause, during which he seemed to be listening to voices in the air. Hoosanee threw himself on his face and lay like one dead. Darkness gathered about them, and the silence in the great room was as the silence of the grave. And then the rajah's voice, deep and passionate, broke forth again. 'What are all these to me, cruel voice? Stay! Stay! For God's sake do not answer me yet, for I must fight this thing out with myself! She is one--an English girl, forsaken and distressed, and in danger of her life, a life that has little value for anyone but me. And they are many--thousands upon thousands. And, through them, I may influence countless myriads more. Do I not know it well? On the one side all these holding out their hands to me. On the other the little soft trembling hand of my love.' His voice broke. There followed another few moments of silence, and then he cried out again: 'Great heavens! why do I stop? Grace in danger! Is this paralysis that is stealing over me? I will shake it off. I will show them all, visible and invisible, that I have a will, that I can choose and act. Hoosanee!' The piercing voice acted like an electric shock. Hoosanee sprang to his feet. 'I thought you were asleep,' said Tom in Hindostanee; 'as you are awake I want you to answer me two or three questions. Answer directly, for my stock of patience is nearly at an end.' 'Let my master speak,' said Hoosanee. 'If I confide in you,' said Tom, 'will you obey me blindly? Come, yes or no? I have had enough of arguments.' 'I am, as I have always been, his Honour's servant,' said Hoosanee with dignity. 'I suppose I must be contented with that,' said Tom, smiling grimly. 'Will you be silent?' 'As silent as the grave, my master.' 'Come, that at least has the merit of directness. You know Ganesh? Do you consider that you know him well?' 'I have known him for many years, Excellency.' 'You have reason to believe that he is a faithful servant?' 'Why does my lord----?' 'We may come to that presently. Answer my question before you put questions of your own.' 'Master, I have no wish and no reason to blacken the face of my fellow-servant before your Highness, but if my lord looks for a companion in this adventure it is not Ganesh that he should choose.' 'Why, Hoosanee?' 'He is a proud man, and a man of high caste. He could not change his countenance or serve my lord with subtlety, as Hoosanee or Subdul Khan could do.' 'Is this your only reason for thinking that he is not the man to go with me?' 'What other reason----?' 'For Heaven's sake answer me directly. Have I not told you that my stock of patience is nearly at an end?' 'I have no other reason,' said Hoosanee with dignity.