It so happened that when Nana Sahib swung up the gravelled drive to the Sirdar's bungalow on a golden chestnut Arab, Sewlal was there. But when, presently, Baptiste's _durwan_ came in to say that Jamadar Hunsa of the new troops was sending his salaams to the Dewan, the latter gasped. He would have told the Bagree to wait, but Nana Sahib, catching the name Hunsa, commanded: "By all means, my dear Baptiste, have that living embodiment of murder in. His face is a delight. You know"--and he smiled at the General--"that that frightfulness of expression is the very reason why the genial Kali has such a hold upon our people. You've seen her, Baptiste; four arms, one holding a platter to catch the blood that drips from a head she suspends above it by another arm; the third hand clasps a sword, and the fourth has the palm spread out as much as to say, 'That is what will happen to you.'" The Frenchman shivered. He was snapping a finger and thumb in mental torture. But Nana Sahib chuckled: "Her tongue protrudes thirsting for more blood--" But the Sirdar protested: "Prince--pardon, but--" "My dear Baptiste, when the Hunsa comes in observe if these things are not all stamped by Brahm on his frontispiece; he fascinates me." The Dewan, devout Brahmin, had been running his fingers along a string of lacquered beads that hung about his neck, muttering a prayer against this that was like sacrilege. When the jamadar was shown into the room his face took on a look of uneasiness. It but added to the ferocity of the square scowling massive head. His huge shoulders, stooped forward as he salaamed, suggested the half-crouch of a tiger--even the eyes, the mouth, induced thoughts of that jungle killer. Nana Sahib, a sneer on his lips, turned to the Minister: "Play him, Dewani, as you love us. There is some rare deviltry afloat." "Why have you come, Jamadar?" the Dewan asked. Hunsa's pig eyes shifted from Sewlal's face to roam over the other two, and then returned a question in them. "Tell him," Nana Sahib suggested, "that he has nothing to fear from us." The jamadar was troubled by the English exchange, but the Dewan explained: "The Prince says you are to speak what is on your mind." "It is this, Sahib Bahadur," Hunsa began, "there is a way that the head of Amir Khan might be obtained as a gift for Maharaja Sindhia. Then Raja Karowlee would be pleased for he would receive his commission and we would be given a reward." "What is the way?" Sewlal queried. "The Chief of the Pindaris, after the habit of Moslems, is one whose heart softens toward a woman who is beautiful and is pleasing to his eye." "Ancient history," Nana Sahib commented in English, "and not confined to Musselmen." "Speak on," the Dewan commanded curtly.