"Why," said the man, "you were first suspected, as being strangers and a large party, and we were desired to search your camp; but here we find nothing but bales of goods,--and, indeed, you are not likely persons to have carried her off, for I question whether you ever saw her." "I dare say," said I, "she was one of the women who were in the durbar the other night, when I paid a visit to the Nuwab." "Very likely," he returned; "were those you saw good-looking?" "They were both so," said I; "one was tall and fair, the other was shorter and not so fair, but very handsome." "That was the girl," said the man; "I have seen her myself once or twice, when I could get inside of a night. But I am wasting my time here, and must return; you may depend upon my fully exonerating you from any suspicion in the matter." "Your favourable opinion," said I, "will no doubt, have its due weight; and I pray you to carry our condolence to the Nuwab, and say that if we have permission we will wait on him to express it." "I will deliver your message," said he; "but I think you will not be admitted, as really he is in great grief, more on account of the insult, perhaps, than the loss of the girl. I take my leave." He saluted us and rode off; and, not long after, a servant of the Nuwab came with a civil message and some fruit, to say that his master regretted he could not see us, and was sorry that he had been under the necessity of searching our camp. We dismissed him with a present, and reiterated our condolences, which he promised to deliver. "And now," said I to my father, "this is no place for us longer; we must be off. What say you to a march in the afternoon?" "It is good," said he; "we will go. Tell the men to be prepared." CHAPTER XI. We were on our way towards Nirmul in the afternoon, and as we had heard no more of the Nuwab and his distress, we were relieved from our anxiety; but I was in great dread the whole time we remained at the town after the Nuwab's people had left us, lest some chance should open to them a clue to detect us. The Bhutteara might possibly reveal what he knew of our proceedings; for although he knew not our object, still our remaining with him for so short a time (as he must have formed a notion that we were after some woman), coupled with the disappearance of Zora, might have led him to suppose, and very naturally so, that we had carried her off. Fortunately, however, no ill effects did ensue, and on the third day after leaving Oomerkhér we reached Nirmul. As I entered the town I saw Bhudrinath in a shop, sitting with his back to the street, in conversation with a decent-looking man, a Moosulman by his appearance. He did not observe me, but on my calling out his assumed name he hastily rose, and assisting me to dismount, embraced me cordially. "Is she safe?" I asked in a low tone, so as not to be overheard by his acquaintance.