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146 hope that Allah would settle with the piglet at some other time, and of that there was none to spare at present. At the palace he plunged into a scene of confusion. On receipt of the news the pleasure-loving King had promptly retreated to the harem, leaving Dunkar Rao to settle with the uprising. And Dunkar Rao was excitedly pacing the audience hall, waving his fat hands, and giving orders to wire for English troops. But as it would take at least six hours for the nearest detachment of English troops to reach Aurungnugur, Firoz Khan was probably right when he said things were going to happen.

“Ah, Hai!” he cried, on catching sight of Lambert. “You come like a bad omen.”

“Well,” replied Lambert, calmly, “that’s just how you choose to regard it. How about concluding the automobile deal?”

“How can I talk of automobiles,” cried Dunkar Rao, throwing up his hands, “when the Mohammedans have sworn to loot the palace.”

“Oh, I don’t see why not,” replied Lambert, lighting a cheroot and tossing the match on the royal pavement at Dunkar Rao’s feet. “I don’t see why the looting of the palace should interfere with the regular course of business. While the boys are ﬁghting it out you can move the treasury office outside the trouble belt. That’s what we would do in my country.”

Dunkar Rao stared at Lambert’s composure in dumb amazement.

“Now, see here,” Lambert went on, changing his manner from a touch of levity to seriousness. “Suppose the Mohammedans have got this story all wrong. Suppose I know where the jewels are. Suppose I can prove