"Eh--I was wondering--eh--whether you would be content to--eh--take your working party and--eh--do a little work for me elsewhere?"
"I"m right set on puzzling out this fault in the reef," d.i.c.k answered promptly.
"My contract reads--"
"For compensation, of course," said Gungadhura. "You would be adequately--eh--there could be a contract drawn."
"I wouldn"t cancel this one--not for hard cash," d.i.c.k retorted.
"No, no. I do not ask that. It would--eh--not be necessary."
"Well, then, what"s the proposal?"
d.i.c.k settled himself back against the masonry crossed his feet, and knocked out ashes from his pipe. The maharajah walked twice, ten yards toward the entrance and back again.
"How long would it take you--eh--to--eh--what was it you said?--to puzzle out this fault?"
"No knowing."
"A short--eh--additional delay will hardly matter?"
"Not if I kept the gang in harness. "Twouldn"t pay to let the team-work slide. Costs too much in time and trouble to break "em in again."
"Then--eh--will you go and dig for me elsewhere?"
"On what terms?"
"The same terms."
"You pay all expenses and--what am I to dig for?"
"Gold!"
"Do I get my percentage of the gross of all gold won?"
"Yes. But because this is a certainty and--eh--I pay all expenses--eh-- of course, in--eh--return for secrecy you--eh--should be well paid, but-- eh--a certain stated sum should be sufficient, or a much smaller percentage."
"Suppose we get down to figures?" d.i.c.k suggested.
"Fifty thousand rupees, or one per cent."
"At my option?"
Gungadhura nodded. d.i.c.k whistled.
"There"d have to be a time limit. I can"t stay and dig forever for a matter of fifty thousand dibs."
Gungadhura grew emphatic at that point, using both clenched fists to beat the air.
"Time limit? There must be no time lost at all! Have you promised to be silent? Have you promised not to breathe one little word to anybody?-- Not to your own wife? Not to Samson?--Above all not to Samson?
Then I will tell you."
Gungadhura glanced about him like a stage conspirator.
"Go on," said d.i.c.k. "There"s n.o.body here knows English except you and me."
"You are to dig for the treasure of Sialpore! The treasure of my ancestors!"
"Fifty thousand dibs--or one per cent. at my option, eh? Make it two per cent., and draw your contract!"
"Two per cent. is too much!"
"Get another man to dig, then!"
"Very well, I make it two per cent. But you must hurry!"
"Draw your contract. Time limit how long?"
"Two weeks--three weeks--not more than a month at the very utmost!
You draw the contract in English, and I will sign it this afternoon. You must begin to dig tomorrow at dawn!"
"Where?"
"In the grounds of the River Palace--across the river--beginning close to the great pipal trees."
"They"re all outside the palace wall. How in thunder can I keep secret about that?"
"You must begin inside the palace wall, and tunnel underground."
"Dirt"s all soft down there," said d.i.c.k. "We"ll need to prop up as we go.
Lots of lumber. Cost like blazes. Where"s the lumber coming from?"
"Cut down the pipal trees!"
"Man--we"d need a mill!"
"There is no lumber--not in such a hurry."
"What"ll we do then? Can"t have accidents."
"Pah! The lives of a few coolies, Mr. Blaine--"
"Nothing doing, Maharajah sahib! Murder"s not my long suit."
"Then pull the palace down and use the beams!"
"You"d have to put that in writing."
"Include it in the contract then! Now, have we agreed?"