"I created a statue ofhim when I first came to the court. No one knows him better."
"Ah yes, you stripped himbare also?"
"To the bone. It wasn'tdifficult. There wasn't much there beyond what you see."
"I need something fromhim."
"And you want to know thekey to getting it?"
"Yes, can you helpme?"
"Oh yes, I can help you.I can tell you the way to get anything you want from the maharajah."
Ruel felt a leap of hope."How?"
"After I get mystatue." Kartauk smiled. "How do I know you won't flit away?"
"How do I know you canreally help me?"
"We'll just have to trusteach other, won't we?"
"I seem to be the onlyone required to trust," Ruel said dryly.
"Which is only fitting.My work is worth more than any prize you can hope to win from themaharajah."
"How do you know?"
"Because my art is worthmore than anything in heaven or hell," Kartauk said simply.
"I see." Ruel gazedat him a moment before nodding. "Three days?"
"Four." Kartauksmiled. "Come early tomorrow morning and be prepared to spend allday."
At that moment Jane enteredthe chamber and moved toward them. "No sign of Pachtal. I went back twomiles and I think I would have seen him."
"Does that mean I've beenwashed clean of the suspicion of perfidy?" Ruel asked.
"No, it means Pachtaldidn't follow us…this time." Shetook off her coolie hat and slicker and dropped them on the stone floor beforestepping closer to the fire. "Hello, Kartauk."
"Jane." Kartauknodded. "You've grown thinner since I last saw you. Are you well?"
"Of course." Shedidn't look at Ruel as she addressed Kartauk. "He has something to ask ofyou."
"We've already come to anunderstanding," Kartauk said.
"Already?"
"Fortunately, Idiscovered I had an unexpected prize with which to bargain," Ruel saidlightly. "Kartauk likes my face."
She nodded with instantunderstanding. "I should have known."
Kartauk laughed. "Yes,you should have. It's a cheap price to pay for a face like his."
"Perhaps not socheap." She turned to look at Ruel. "I believe it's time you told usjust what property you want to buy from the maharajah."
He tensed. "Why is thatimportant?"
"It's not important initself, but you know everything about us and we know nothing about you. Thatknowledge gives you an advantage I don't want you to have."
