"
"All in good time, Rajah," one of the officers laughed; "we don't
know what will be entered against it yet, and we must wait to see
what the betting is, but I doubt whether we have anything that
will beat the Bombay crack on this side; I fancy you will have to
lay odds on."
"We shall see," the Rajah said; "I have always been unlucky, but
I mean to win this time."
"I don't think you take your losses much to heart, Rajah," General
Wheeler said; "yet there is no doubt that your bets are generally
somewhat rash ones."
"I mean to make a coup this time. That is your word for a big
thing, I think. The Government has treated me so badly I must try
to take something out of the pockets of its officers."
"You do pretty well still," the General laughed; "after this splendid
entertainment you have given us this evening you can hardly call
yourself a poor man."
"I know I am rich. I have enough for my little pleasures--I do
not know that I could wish for more--still no one is ever quite
content."
By this time the party was breaking up, and for the next half hour
the Rajah was occupied in bidding goodby to his guests. When the
last had gone he turned and entered the palace, passed through the
great halls, and, pushing aside a curtain, entered a small room. The
walls and the columns were of white marble, inlaid with arabesque
work of colored stones. Four golden lamps hung from the ceiling, the
floor was covered with costly carpets, and at one end ran a raised
platform a foot in height, piled with soft cushions.
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