CHAPTER TWOThe Duke felt elated, thinking with relief that the Viceroy had solved his pressing problem.
Then he was aware that Lord Curzon was still looking at the letter from the Sultan and there was an expression on his face that told the Duke all too clearly how angry he was.
“After I received this letter,” he said, “I made some enquiries, of course, as secretly as possible.”
The Duke looked puzzled, but he did not interrupt and the Viceroy went on,
“I learnt to my horror that four years ago in 1896 the Dutch officials made a presentation of eight cartloads of unique relics of Borobudur as souvenirs to King Chulalongkorn of Siam, who was visiting them.”
“I don’t believe it!” the Duke exclaimed.
“Unfortunately it is true,” Lord Curzon said, “and the gift included thirty relief pane
