If you traveled two days among your people, you would
come back knowing very well what awaited your power to accomplish."
"I am glad to hear you say so," Nehal returned, smiling, "for I am
ambitious."
"Ambition and power!" exclaimed Travers. "You are indeed to be envied,
Rajah Sahib!"
"What would you do in my place?" Nehal asked, after a moment, in a lighter
tone, which concealed a real and eager curiosity.
Travers shook his head.
"The greater the power the greater the responsibility," he answered. "I
couldn't say on the spur of the moment. If I were given time, no doubt I
should be able to tell you."
"I give you till our next meeting, then," Nehal said gravely.
"Our next meeting? I trust, then, Rajah Sahib that you will condescend to
be the guest of the English Station?"
Nehal turned his head to hide the flash of boyish satisfaction which shone
out of his eyes. It was that he wanted--to go among this people, from
their own hearth to judge them, and to probe down into the source of their
greatness.
"It would give me much pleasure," he answered quietly.
It was Travers' turn to hide the triumph which the willing acceptance
aroused. Nevertheless, his next words were whimsically regretful.
"Unfortunately, we have no place in which to offer you a fitting welcome,
Rajah Sahib," he said. "For a long time it has been the ambition of the
Station to build some place wherein all such festivities could be properly
celebrated.
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