"My lord, his highness is here," he whispered, and then ran out I would
have given anything not to have stood before him that day, but there was
no help for it; and, forcing myself to look calm and unconcerned, I went
into the principal room, just as the rajah entered by the farther
doorway, very plainly dressed, and quite alone.
"Hah!" he exclaimed, with a friendly nod, "there is no need to ask. I
can see. Better and better! So you shall have a change.--Well?"
He paused for me to speak, and I could not dissimulate.
"Oh, thank you," I said; "I do not want a change."
"The doctor says that you do, and I say that you do," he continued,
smiling; but there was no mistaking his tone. "So you shall go out. We
will go out together. You are a great hunter, I know."
"Oh no," I said hastily.
"Well, you are fond of hunting."
"I liked shooting," I said, as I thought of the end of my last
expedition.
"I know you do," he continued, with a meaning smile. "There is a tiger
at the village a little way toward the hills, and he has been taking the
poor people's cows. Yesterday he struck down a woman, and carried her
off into the forest. I have had him tracked by the shikaris, and
ordered the elephants and beaters to be ready. You shall take me with
you, Gil, and give me a lesson in shooting tiger."
"Then he has not a suspicion," I thought. And then I asked myself
whether I should go or refuse.
"If I go," I thought, "I shall be serving Brace, for the attack may be
made in our absence, and, without their leader, the troops will give
way. But if I go with him, knowing what I do, I shall be acting
treacherously to the man who saved my life."