`Heiscome，’saidtheboy，inavoicelittlelouderthanasigh，andvanished。Kimfeltsurethattheboyhadbeenpostedtoguidehimfromthefirst，but，puttingaboldfaceonit，partedthecurtain。Ablack-beardedman，withagreenshadeoverhiseyes，satatatable，and，onebyone，withshort，whitehands，pickedupglobulesoflightfromatraybeforehim，threadedthemonaglancingsilkenstring，andhummedtohimselfthewhile。KimwasconsciousthatbeyondthecircleoflighttheroomwasfullofthingsthatsmeltlikeallthetemplesofalltheEast。Awhiffofmusk，apuffofsandal-wood，andabreathofsicklyjessamine-oilcaughthisopenednostrils。
`Iamhere，’saidKimatlast，speakinginthevernacular：thesmellsmadehimforgetthathewastobeaSahib。
`Seventy-nine，eighty，eighty-one，’themancountedtohimself；stringingpearlafterpearlsoquicklythatKimcouldscarcelyfollowhisfingers。
HeslidoffthegreenshadeandlookedfixedlyatKimforafullhalf-minute。
Thepupilsoftheeyedilatedandclosedtopin-pricks，asifatwill。
TherewasafakirbytheTaksaliGatewhohadjustthisgiftandmademoneybyit，especiallywhencursingsillywomen。Kimstaredwithinterest。Hisdisreputablefriendcouldfurthertwitchhisears，almostlikeagoat，andKimwasdisappointedthatthisnewmancouldnotimitatehim。
`Donotbeafraid，’saidLurganSahibsuddenly。
`WhyshouldIfear？’
`Thouwiltsleepheretonight，andstaywithmetillitistimetogoagaintoNucklao。Itisanorder。’
`Itisanorder，’Kimrepeated。`ButwhereshallIsleep？’
`Here，inthisroom。’LurganSahibwavedhishandtowardsthedarknessbehindhim。
`Sobeit，’saidKimcomposedly。`Now？’
Henoddedandheldthelampabovehishead。Asthelightsweptthem，thereleapedoutfromthewallsacollectionofTibetandevil-dancemasks，hangingabovethefiend-embroidereddraperiesofthoseghastlyfunctions-hornedmasks，scowlingmasks，andmasksofidioticterror。Inacorner，aJapanesewarrior，mailedandplumed，menacedhimwithahalberd，andascoreoflancesandkhandasandkuttarsgavebacktheunsteadygleam。ButwhatinterestedKimmorethanallthesethings-hehadseendevil-dancemasksattheLahoreMuseum-wasaglimpseofthesoft-eyedHinduchildwhohadlefthiminthedoorway，sittingcross-leggedunderthetableofpearlswithalittlesmileonhisscarletlips。
`IthinkthatLurganSahibwishestomakemeafraid。AndIamsurethatthatdevil’sbratbelowthetablewishestoseemeafraid。Thisplace，’
hesaidaloud，`islikeaWonderHouse。Whereismybed？’
LurganSahibpointedtoanativequiltinacornerbytheloathsomemasks，pickedupthelamp，andlefttheroomblack。
`WasthatLurganSahib？’Kimaskedashecuddleddown。Noanswer。HecouldheartheHinduboybreathing，however，and，guidedbythesound，crawledacrossthefloor，andcuffedintothedarkness，crying：`Giveanswer，devil！IsthisthewaytolietoaSahib？’
Fromthedarknesshefanciedhecouldheartheechoofachuckle。Itcouldnotbehissoft-fleshedcompanion，becausehewasweeping。SoKimlifteduphisvoiceandcalledaloud：`LurganSahib！OLurganSahib！Isitanorderthatthyservantdoesnotspeaktome？’
`Itisanorder。’Thevoicecamefrombehindhimandhestarted。
`Verygood。Butremember，’hemuttered，asheresoughtthequilt，`I
willbeattheeinthemorning。IdonotloveHindus。’
Thatwasnocheerfulnight；theroombeingoverfullofvoicesandmusic。
Kimwaswakedtwicebysomeonecallinghisname。Thesecondtimehesetoutinsearch，andendedbybruisinghisnoseagainstaboxthatcertainlyspokewithahumantongue，butinnosortofhumanaccent。Itseemedtoendinatintrumpetandtobejoinedbywirestoasmallerboxonthefloor-sofar，atleast，ashecouldjudgebytouch。Andthevoice，veryhardandwhirring，cameoutofthetrumpet。Kimrubbedhisnoseandgrewfurious，thinking，asusual，inHindi。
`Thiswithabeggarfromthebazarmightbegood，but-IamaSahibandthesonofaSahiband，whichistwiceasmuchmorebeside，astudentofNucklao。Yess’hereheturnedtoEnglish，`aboyofStXavier’s。DamnMrLurgan’seyes！-Itissomesortofmachinerylikeasewing-machine。
Oh，itisagreatcheekofhim-wearenotfrightenedthatwayatLucknow-No！’TheninHindi：`Butwhatdoeshegain？Heisonlyatrader-Iaminhisshop。ButCreightonSahibisaColonel-andIthinkCreightonSahibgaveordersthatitshouldbedone。HowIwillbeatthatHinduinthemorning！Whatisthis？’
Thetrumpet-boxwaspouringoutastringofthemostelaborateabusethatevenKimhadeverheard，inahighuninterestedvoice，thatforamomentliftedtheshorthairsofhisneck。Whenthevilethingdrewbreath，Kimwasreassuredbythesoft，sewing-machine-likewhirr。
`Chû；p！[Bestill]’hecried，andagainheheardachucklethatdecidedhim。`Chû；p-orIbreakyourhead。’
Theboxtooknoheed。Kimwrenchedatthetintrumpetandsomethingliftedwithaclick。Hehadevidentlyraisedalid。Iftherewereadevilinside，nowwasitstime，for-hesniffed-thusdidthesewing-machinesofthebazarsmell。Hewouldcleanthatshaitan。Heslippedoffhisjacket，andplungeditintothebox’smouth。Somethinglongandroundbentunderthepressure，therewasawhirrandthevoicestopped-asvoicesmustifyouramathrice-doubledcoatontothewaxcylinderandintotheworksofanexpensivephonograph。Kimfinishedhisslumberswithaserenemind。
InthemorninghewasawareofLurganSahiblookingdownonhim。
`Oah！’saidKim，firmlyresolvedtoclingtohisSahib-dom。`Therewasaboxinthenightthatgavemebadtalk。SoIstoppedit。Wasityourbox？’
Themanheldouthishand。
`Shakehands，O’Hara，’hesaid。`Yes，itwasmybox。IkeepsuchthingsbecausemyfriendstheRajahslikethem。Thatoneisbroken，butitwascheapattheprice。Yes，myfriends，theKings，areveryfondoftoys-
andsoamIsometimes。’
Kimlookedhimoveroutofthecornersofhiseyes。HewasaSahibinthatheworeSahib’sclothes；theaccentofhisUrdu，theintonationofhisEnglish，showedthathewasanythingbutaSahib。HeseemedtounderstandwhatmovedinKim’sminderetheboyopenedhismouth，andhetooknopainstoexplainhimselfasdidFatherVictorortheLucknowmasters。Sweetestofall-hetreatedKimasanequalontheAsiaticside。
`Iamsorryyoucannotbeatmyboythismorning。Hesayshewillkillyouwithaknifeorpoison。Heisjealous，soIhaveputhiminthecornerandIshallnotspeaktohimtoday。Hehasjusttriedtokillme。Youmusthelpmewiththebreakfast。Heisalmosttoojealoustotrust，justnow。’
NowagenuineimportedSahibfromEnglandwouldhavemadeagreatto-dooverthistale。LurganSahibstateditassimplyasMahbubAliwasusedtorecordhislittleaffairsintheNorth。
Thebackverandaoftheshopwasbuiltoutoverthesheerhillside，andtheylookeddownintotheirneighbours’chimney-pots，asisthecustomofSimla。ButevenmorethanthepurelyPersianmealcookedbyLurganSahibwithhisownhands，theshopfascinatedKim。TheLahoreMuseumwaslarger，buthereweremorewonders-ghost-daggersandprayer-wheelsfromTibet；
turquoiseandrawambernecklaces；greenjadebangles；curiouslypackedincense-sticksinjarscrustedoverwithrawgarnets；thedevil-masksofovernightandawallfullofpeacock-bluedraperies；giltfiguresofBuddha，andlittleportablelacqueraltars；Russiansamovarswithturquoisesonthelid；egg-shellchinasetsinquaintoctagonalcaneboxes；yellowivorycrucifixes-fromJapanofallplacesintheworld，soLurganSahibsaid；
carpetsindustybales，smellingatrociously，pushedbackbehindtornandrottenscreensofgeometricalwork；Persianwater-jugsforthehandsaftermeals；dullcopperincense-burnersneitherChinesenorPersian，withfriezesoffantasticdevilsrunningroundthem；tarnishedsilverbeltsthatknottedlikerawhide；hairpinsofjade，ivory，andplasma；armsofallsortsandkinds，andathousandotheroddmentswerecased，orpiled，ormerelythrownintotheroom，leavingaclearspaceonlyroundthericketydealtable，whereLurganSahibworked。
`Thosethingsarenothing，’saidhishost，followingKim’sglance。`I
buythembecausetheyarepretty，andsometimesIsell-ifIlikethebuyer’slook。Myworkisonthetable-someofit。’
Itblazedinthemorninglight-allredandblueandgreenflashes，pickedoutwiththeviciousblue-whitespurtofadiamondhereandthere。
Kimopenedhiseyes。
`Oh，theyarequitewell，thosestones。Itwillnothurtthemtotakethesun。Besides，theyarecheap。Butwithsickstonesitisverydifferent。’
HepiledKim’splateanew。`Thereisnoonebutmecandoctorasickpearlandre-blueturquoises。Igrantyouopals-anyfoolcancureanopal-
butforasickpearlthereisonlyme。SupposeIweretodie！Thentherewouldbenoone……Ohno！Youcannotdoanythingwithjewels。ItwillbequiteenoughifyouunderstandalittleabouttheTurquoise-someday。’
Hemovedtotheendoftheverandatorefilltheheavy，porousclaywater-jugfromthefilter。
`Doyouwantdrink？’
Kimnodded。LurganSahib，fifteenfeetoff；laidonehandonthejar。
Nextinstant，itstoodatKim’selbow，fulltowithinhalfaninchofthebrim-thewhiteclothonlyshowing，byasmallwrinkle，whereithadslidintoplace。
`Wah！’saidKiminmostutteramazement。`Thatismagic。’LurganSahib’ssmileshowedthatthecomplimenthadgonehome。
`Throwitback。’
`Itwillbreak。’
`Isay，throwitback。’
Kimpitcheditatrandom。Itfellshortandcrashedintofiftypieces，whilethewaterdrippedthroughtheroughverandaboarding。
`Isaiditwouldbreak。’
`Allone。Lookatit。Lookatthelargestpiece。’
Thatlaywithasparkleofwaterinitscurve，asitwereastaronthefloor。Kimlookedintently。LurganSahiblaidonehandgentlyonthenapeofhisneck，strokedittwiceorthrice，andwhispered：`Look！Itshallcometolifeagain，piecebypiece。Firstthebigpieceshalljoinitselftotwoothersontherightandtheleft-ontherightandtheleft。
Look！’
Tosavehislife，Kimcouldnothaveturnedhishead。Thelighttouchheldhimasinavice，andhisbloodtingledpleasantlythroughhim。Therewasonelargepieceofthejarwheretherehadbeenthree，andabovethemtheshadowyoutlineoftheentirevessel。Hecouldseetheverandathroughit，butitwasthickeninganddarkeningwitheachbeatofhispulse。Yetthejar-howslowlythethoughtscame！-thejarhadbeensmashedbeforehiseyes。Anotherwaveofpricklingfireraceddownhisneck，asLurganSahibmovedhishand。
`Look！Itiscomingintoshape，’saidLurganSahib。
SofarKimhadbeenthinkinginHindi，butatremorcameonhim，andwithaneffortlikethatofaswimmerbeforesharks，whohurlshimselfhalfoutofthewater，hismindleapedupfromadarknessthatwasswallowingitandtookrefugein-themultiplication-tableinEnglish！