Then he tapped lightly on the wooden door, calling softly,
"Bootea--Bootea!"
When it was opened he said: "Food is coming, Gulab. A man of caste
brings it, and it is but eggs from which no life has been taken, so you
may eat. Then the _chowkidar_ will go with you."
Jungwa brought the breakfast and put it down, saying, "I will wait,
Sahib, outside the bathroom door."
"Here is money--ten rupees for whatever is needed. Be courteous to the
lady, for she is not a _nautchni_."
"The Sahib would entertain none such," the _chowkidar_ answered with a
grave salaam.
"Damn the thing!" Barlow groaned.
CHAPTER XIV
An hour later Barlow, mounted on a stalky Cabuli polo-pony, rode to the
Residency, happy over the papers in his pocket, but troubling over how
he could explain their possession and keep the girl out of it. To even
mention the Gulab, unless he fabricated a story, would let escape the
night-ride, and, no doubt, in the perversity of things, Resident Hodson
would want to know where she was and where he had taken her, and insist
on having her produced for an official inquisition.
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