"I suppose it is not given to outsiders to know what all that means?" added
Louis.
"Certainly it is," replied Sir Modava. "It means, 'Behold the King of
Kings, Khunderao Guicowar, whose army is invincible, whose courage is
indomitable.'"
"Is that in a Pickwickian sense?" asked Scott.
"Not at all, for the Guicowar is as brave a man as ever put a foot into
shoe-leather, or went barefooted," replied Lord Tremlyn, "though there is a
little exaggeration common to the Orient in the proclamation."
As his Majesty came in front of the veranda the party rose and saluted him
with low bows, and the waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies. He responded
with a kingly smile and a graceful wave of the hand. The procession passed
on, and shortly afterwards the booming cannon announced that the moment of
the solemn benediction had come. The attentive officials of the court
presently appeared with the carriages, and an invitation to the whole
company to dine with the Guicowar again at his table.
They had to wait an hour for the king, but they found enough to interest
them in observing the coming of numerous other guests. In an ante-room the
floor was almost covered with shoes, many of them of the richest material,
even with precious stones upon them. Sir Modava explained that Eastern
etiquette required that the visitors going into the presence of the
Maharajah should remove their shoes, but that Europeans and Americans were
exempt from this requirement.
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