she left India for England about the end of March 1911 and
returned to India onlyin the beginning of October 191 I, during
which time, so far as the plaintiff was aware, the boys were kept
away from associating with the said Mr. Leadbeater.
6. In or about November 1911 the defendant told the
plaintiff that the boys were making rapid Spiritual progress
and were approaching initiation
by the Masters (a set of
superhuman
gurus
living on
the eastern
slopes of the
Himalayas) believed in by the Theosophists.
She therefore
propOsed to keep the boys With Mr. Leadbeater at ‘Ootaca-
mund
preparatory
to their initiation.
On
the
plaintiff’s
objection the boys were
not sent to Ootacamund.
The
plaintiff met the defendant in Benares in December
1911
and insisted on an absolute separation of the boys from Mr.
Leadbeater.
But for the first time, to the plaintiff’s great
surprise, the defendant refused to adOpt any such course, and
alleged that the bOys and Leadbeater had lived together 'for
several lives past, and that Leadbeater was an Arhat or
Saint, “who is on the "verge of divinity.”
The plaintiff stated
that he could not accept any such position, and- that unless
the separation took place he would take action in the matter.
7. The plaintiff returned from Benares to Adyar, and there,
on or about January 19, 1912, the defendant, in presence of
certain members of the Theosophical Society, sent for the
plaintiff and asked him what he wanted to be done in respect
of the boys.
The plaintiff only demanded that there should
be absolute separation from the said Leadbeater.
She agreed
to this, and asked the plaintiff whether he had any objection
to the boys being taken to England.
The plaintiff assented,
as the defendant had alleged that she. would be returning to
I8