` But what is this tale of the thief and the search ? ' ` That which I saw , ' said Kim , ` the night that my lama and I lay next thy place in the Kashmir Seral . The door was left unlocked , which I think is not thy custom , Mahbub . He came in as one assured that thou wouldst not soon return . My eye was against a knot-hole in the plank . He searched as it were for something -- not a rug , not stirrups , nor a bridle , nor brass pots -- something little and most carefully hid . Else why did he prick with an iron between the soles of thy slippers ? ' ` Ha ! ' Mahbub Ali smiled gently . ` And seeing these things , what tale didst thou fashion to thyself , Well of the Truth ? ' ` None . I put my hand upon my amulet , which lies always next to my skin , and , remembering the pedigree of a white stallion that I had bitten out of a piece of Mussalmani bread , I went away to Umballa perceiving that a heavy trust was laid upon me . At that hour , had I chosen , thy head was forfeit . It needed only to say to that man , `` I have here a paper concerning a horse which I can not read . '' And then ? ' Kim peered at Mahbub under his eyebrows . ` Then thou wouldst have drunk water twice -- perhaps thrice , afterwards . I do not think more than thrice , ' said Mahbub simply . ` It is true . I thought of that a little , but most I thought that I loved thee , Mahbub .
Therefore I went to XXXXX , as thou knowest , but -LRB- and this thou dost not know -RRB- I lay hid in the garden-grass to see what Colonel Creighton Sahib might do upon reading the white stallion 's pedigree . '
Ali Kim Mahbub Mussalmani Seral Umballa didst hour left night