Here Hoosanee stepped forward. 'Excellency,' he said, 'I know this man, and he was known to the late rajah, my master. He is a Brahmin youth, and the adopted son of a prince.' 'Call Ganesh,' said Tom, 'to give him food and drink.' Ganesh, the chuprassie, or steward, a man of the highest caste, was, as Tom knew, the only person in camp from whom the Brahmin stranger could accept food. He turned to him and entreated him courteously to enter. 'My brother will rest,' he said, using the picturesque form of speech of the country, 'and food and drink shall be brought to him.' Without a word the stranger flung himself down on a pile of cushions. He looked round him boldly; but Tom noted with compassion the wild hunger of his eyes. From under his vestment he drew a cup and platter of silver, richly wrought, which contrasted strangely with his ragged robe. These Ganesh, the stately Brahmin steward, filled, the one with new milk and the other with rice and chupatties, whereupon the stranger, having saluted his host, turned away and ate and drank in a silence which Tom preserved until the meal was ended. 'Is my brother satisfied?' he said then. 'For to-day,' said the stranger. 'But the hunger will return.' 'Come again to-morrow.' 'And the following day?' 'Come the following day also.' 'How long will your tent be here?' 'Three days and nights.' 'And then?' 'I will go on to the higher country--to Nepaul--perhaps to Cashmere--but first----' 'Go to the higher country at once,' interrupted the stranger, 'or'--he looked at his host fixedly--'become one of us.' 'What do you mean?' said Tom. 'I will answer by a question. You are an Englishman?' 'I am.' 'But you do not love your people?' The hollow voice had risen, and the question sounded almost like a threat. Tom was surprised, but he answered quietly, 'Of course I love my people. Why do you ask me such questions?' 'I ask because I seek to know; because you are a mystery. See! You dress as we dress. You understand our language. You know our ways. There is sympathy in your face. Twice within this hour you have called me brother--me whom the Feringhees have cast out. Why is this?' 'I have a stake in your country,' said Tom gravely. 'The Supreme Spirit, who is over us as He is over you, has decreed that I shall take up the work of a great and good man, who was of you, and who has gone out from you. I do not know all I wish to know of his ideas; but I am convinced that he loved his people, and I am learning to know them that I may love them too. I call you brother because I am of your kin. From the same great Spirit we came forth.' The stranger bowed his head. 'And unto the same Spirit we return. My brother has spoken truly. He has spoken as a sage.' And thereupon, without answering Tom's entreaties that he would stay or return, he rose and took his leave.