A tall, fine-looking rajput came across the terrace toward Darpore.
"Ah, Darna Singh," the prince greeted, rising; "you are just in time to see a _kushti_ that will delight your warrior heart. This is my brother-in-law, Nawab Darna Singh," he continued, turning to Swinton and Gilfain and repeating their entitled names.
The rajput salaamed with grave dignity, saying the honour pleased him.
"I have intruded, rajah," Darna Singh explained, "because there is trouble at the temple. The mahanta is at the gate----"
"Show him in, Darna. I can't see him privately just now; the keddah sahib and Jai Singh are going to make _kushti_."
While the rajput went to the gate for the mahanta, Prince Ananda said apologetically: "Even a prince must show deference to the keeper of the temple."
Darna Singh returned, accompanied by an animated skeleton of mummy hue. Draping the skin-covered bones was a loin cloth and a thread that hung diagonally from one shoulder to the waist.
With a deep salaam, the mahanta, trembling with indignation, panted: "Dharama comes in the morning with his Buddhistic devils to desecrate the temple by placing in it that brass Buddha--accursed image!--he has brought from the land of Japan."
"Ah!" The exclamation was from Lord Victor as Finnerty appeared.
"Here, Darna," Ananda cried, "hold the mahanta till this is over; I don't want to miss it."
Darna Singh led the Brahmin beyond the table at which the sahibs were grouped, explaining that Prince Ananda would speak to him presently.
Now Finnerty, coming into the light, slipped a robe from his shoulders and stood beside Jai Singh, looking like a sculptured form of ivory.
Swinton caught his breath in a gasp of admiration; he had never seen such a superb being. Jai Singh, that a moment before had seemed of matchless mould, now suffered by comparison. Each move of the Irishman was like the shifting of a supple gladiator. The shoulders, the loins, the overlapping muscles of his arms were like those of Hercules.
Lord Victor was muttering: "My word! Poor old decadent England--what!"
Several times as he sat there Swinton had felt vibrant thrills, as if eyes that blazed with intensity were on him, and always as he had turned in answer to the unseen influence he had instinctively looked to a jalousied balcony above them. Now he caught the glint of white fingers between the leaves of the lattice as if a hand vibrated them. He could have sworn Finnerty's erect head had drooped in recognition.