` Hmm ! If I withdraw him by order now -- what will he do , think you ? I have never before assisted at the teaching of such an one . ' ` He will come to me , ' said Mahbub promptly . ` Lurgan Sahib and I will prepare him for the Road . ' ` So be it , then . For six months he shall run at his choice . But who will be his sponsor ? ' Lurgan slightly inclined his head . ` He will not tell anything , if that is what you are afraid of , Colonel Creighton . ' ` It 's only a boy , after all . ' ` Ye-es ; but first , he has nothing to tell ; and secondly , he knows what would happen . Also , he is very fond of Mahbub , and of me a little . ' ` Will he draw pay ? ' demanded the practical horse-dealer . ` Food and water allowance only . Twenty rupees a month . ' One advantage of the Secret Service is that it has no worrying audit . That Service is ludicrously starved , of course , but the funds are administered by a few men who do not call for vouchers or present itemized accounts . Mahbub 's eyes lighted with almost a Sikh 's love of money .
Even XXXXX 's impassive face changed .
Lurgan Mahbub Sahib Service Sikh Ye-es first horse-dealer month months