was furnished with a perfect undergrowth of dwellings for the many Brahmins who served at the altar.
Now
the object of the grenadier's metamorphosis was that he might be
received into these sacred precincts and become a priest of Brahma. And
why ? Because Brahma had a diamond eye. As the French historian puts
it, " the soldier had become enamored of the beautiful eyes of the
deity." European heretics were not allowed to penetrate further than
the fourth inclosure. If the grenadier was to gaze at the eye of the
god it must be as a Hindoo.
Being,
then, externally a Hindoo, the Frenchman proceeded to gain the
confidence, and even the admiration of the priests by the
extraordinary fervor of his devotion. The ruse succeeded, and he was
eventually appointed guardian of the innermost shrine.
One
night, on the occasion of a great storm, the Hindoo-grenadier believed
the moment propitious for his grand enterprise. Being alone
