"
"Yes. We caught the crowd who printed that. Couldn't discover,
though, how it got into the regiment's mail bags without being
postmarked. Let's see--wasn't Ranjoor Singh officer-of-the-day?"
"Yes."
"Um-m-m! Would it surprise you to know that Ranjoor Singh visits
Yasmini?"
"Wouldn't interest me."
"What follows is in strict confidence, please."
"I'm listening."
"I want you to hear reason. India, the whole of India, mind, has its
ear to the ground. All up and down the length of the land--in every
bazaar--in the ranks of every native regiment--it's known that people
representing some other European Power are trying to sow discontent
with our rule; and it's obvious to any native that we're on the watch
for something big that we expect to break any minute. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"Our strongest card is the loyalty of the native troops."
"Yes."
"Everybody knows that. Also, this thing we're looking for is most
damnably real--might burst to-day, to-morrow--any time. So, even with
the censorship in working order, it wouldn't be wise to arrest a
native officer merely on suspicion."
"I'd arrest one of mine," said Kirby, "if I had any reason to
suspect him for a second."
"Wouldn't be wise! You mustn't!" The man in drab silk shook his
head. "Now, suppose you were to arrest Ranjoor Singh--"
Kirby laughed outright.
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