"I had just espied the man of whom I was in quest, seated at some distance among a group of idlers, when I was accosted by a stranger handsomely accoutred and of line bearing. He said that he had heard I was recently arrived from Sengali. He had friends in that village, and would be glad to hear of them.
"I told him that for the present I was occupied with pressing business, but a little later I would be at his disposal, and pleased to give him any information in my power. He thanked me courteously, and said he would return in the evening, when, perhaps, I would be more at leisure. I had cut short this interview, paying, indeed, little heed to the stranger, for I had noticed that my friend, the munshi, not knowing of my presence in the inn, was in the act of taking his departure. I hastened after him.
"The venerable munshi was delighted to see me, and insisted on my sharing his evening meal. We moved in the direction of his home, and he gave me the chit-chat of the day. Until our repast was finished I did not mention the object of my visit. Only after we were comfortably seated on the veranda, enjoying the cool night air, did I approach the subject, discreetly, as was fitting, by talking on topics quite at variance from the one in my mind. But after a time I ventured to ask whether many travellers had passed recently. He looked at me shrewdly and smiled.
"'At last, my friend, you tell me the reason of your coming here. You are in search of some one.'
"'Truly I am,' I replied, 'and it is a matter of life or death to find the man I am seeking.'
"Thereupon, without further preamble, I related the story of Baji Lal and the missing Sheikh.
"At the end of my narrative Munshi Khyraz--such was my host's name--sat silent for a spell. I knew my friend, and allowed him his own time to make any comment. Presently he broke from his reflections.
"'About the time you mention,' he began, 'just before the first rains, a stranger was brought into this town by some woodcutters. Their story was that the wounded man had been attacked by his servant when travelling, and left for dead in the jungle.'
"I started, and leaned toward him eagerly.
"'A clue!' I cried. 'A clue! Where is he now?'
"The old sage looked at me with disapproval in his eyes.