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138 the Tirthankers Temple at Benares. Look here, Padre, I don't pretend to know much about natives, but if he says he'll pay, he'll pay—dead or alive. That's to say, he'll pass on the debt to some one else. My advice to you is, send the boy down to Lucknow. If your Anglican chaplain thinks you've stolen a march on him'

'Bad luck to Bennett! He was sent to the front instead o' me. Doughty certified me medically unfit. I'll excommunicate Doughty if he comes home alive. Surely Bennett ought to be content with '

'Glory, leaving you the religion. Quite so! As a matter of fact I don't think Bennett will mind. Put the blame on me. I—er—strongly recommend sending the boy to St. Xavier's. He can go down on pass as a soldier's orphan, so the railway fare will be saved. You can buy him an outfit from the regimental subscription. The lodge will be saved the expense of his education, and that will put the lodge in a good temper. It's perfectly easy. Look here. I've got to go down to Lucknow next week. I'll look after the boy on the way. Put him in charge of my servants and so on.'

'You're a good man.'

'Not in the least. Don't make that mistake. The lama has sent us money for a definite end. We can't very well return it. We shall have to do as he says. Well, that's settled, isn't it? Shall we say that on Tuesday next you'll hand him over to me on the night train south? That's only three days. He can't do much harm in three days.'

'It's a weight off my mind, but—this thing here'—he waved the note of hand—'I don't know Gobind Sahai: an' his bank, which may be a hole in a wall in a bazar.'