"But you are English, are you not ?" "Certainly I am." "How strong is Russia's army ?" continued the Khan, after an application to the gold snuff box, and a trumpet-blast on the yellow bandanna.
"Nominally about three millions." "And England ?" "About two hundred thousand, not counting the reserves." "Humph!" grunted the Khan.

"Tell me, do the English imagine that Abdur Raman [B] is their friend ?" "I believe so." "Then tell them from me," cried the Khan, excitedly, half rising from his seat, "tell Queen Victoria from me that it is not so.

Tell her to beware of Abdur Raman.

He is her enemy." "Is England afraid of Russia ?" continued the Khan after a long pause.
"No; the English fear no one." "Will England reach Kandahar before Russia takes Herat ?" "I really cannot say," was my answer to this somewhat puzzling question.
Mir Khudadad then turned away to converse with the Wazir in a low tone.

About ten minutes elapsed, during which a long confabulation was held, in which many of the suite, including the Afghan soldiers, joined.