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Deenah watched his mistress depart, then he raised his eyes to Carlin, saying: "The Hakima will understand. These things are not for the Sahiba " "Speak " Deenah arose, saying: "It is not good for you to set foot in my house, but come to the threshold; then neither my voice nor the voices of these shall enter her understanding " Deenah pointed to the rest of the servants who gathered around.
A little out, Nels was given the scent of the strange elephant and Deenah left them, with nothing to mitigate the evil discovery that Carlin and her friend had been carried straight through the open jungle country, toward the Vindhas; not at all in the direction the messenger had stated within hearing of the other servants.
The face of Deenah was the face of one struck and crippled with his own needs, which point helped the Kabuli to decision. The terms of the agreement were made straight and fixed. Deenah went back to his house where he made the monster's plan known to the servants.
He had an invincible equilibrium and authority in his own world, which was a considerable establishment back of the dining-room, including a most delectable little creature even smaller than Deenah, but quite as important, and sharing all light and shadow by his side. Deenah had a look of forked lightning and a mellow voice. The more angry he became, the more caressing his tones.
Deenah considered well, in soft tones saying presently that he could not accomplish this thing alone, but must advise with his fellow-servants who were trustworthy. In fact, if the Kabuli could come this afternoon when the Sahiba and the Hakima would be away and tell his story once more, in the presence of the utterly reliable among the servants all might be brought to pass.
One day while he was down in the bazaars buying provisions, the monster Kabuli beckoned Deenah to come closer.
In the afternoon, when the house was empty, the monster Kabuli called and opened a small pack in the quiet shade of the compound, before the eyes of six men and one woman, as much Deenah as himself. . . . When the time in the story came that Deenah was to use his influence upon the mind of his mistress, there seemed a slowness of understanding among the other servants; so that the Kabuli had to speak again and very clearly.
They stood together terrier and blood-hound and Deenah listened while the form and colour of better conditions was outlined for his sake. . . . The Kabuli had heard that Deenah was a great servant; he had heard it from many sources, even that Deenah was favourably compared with the chief commissioner's favourite servant who was a picked man of ten thousand.
The Deputy capitulated: "Mitha Baba, yes; especially since she knows the Hakima and oh, I say, that's a strange tale, you know " He glanced from Deenah to Nels, to Skag; but received no encouragement to narrate same.
And now Skag heard of the coming of the messenger with the strange elephant; and the black edging began to run about Deenah's tale, as he revealed the ugly possibilities in his own mind that the Monster Kabuli had his part in this sending: ". . . Now Hantee Sahib must learn," Deenah finished, "that not within four hours' journey from Hurda; nay, not within six hours' journey from Hurda, is there any native prince with the dignity of one elephant."