Ahmad's martial spirit was stung by the taunt. He would have risen to his feet in support of the heroic woman, had not a quicker action on Prasad's part restrained him, in sullen humor, to his seat. The Rani had turned as if about to leave the council, when Prasad crossed over to her side. He drew his sword and laid it at her feet. "If no other will follow," he cried, "I will go with thee to Gwalior, or to wherever thou dost lead." The Rani rewarded him with a grateful look, in which he might have discerned the shade of a more tender feeling. She bent down, and taking his sword gave it back to him. "Thou shalt go with me to Gwalior," she spoke gently. The Rao Sahib had listened throughout the Rani's appeal with a growing appreciation of its truth. Some great, some telling stroke must be delivered in the emergency. It needed but an incident like Prasad's act to win him over to her side. "Aye," he exclaimed. "Prasad Singh doth rightly. We will all go with thee, valiant Rani. The command, too, of this business shall be given to thy hands. If Gwalior is captured, the glory of it shall forever rest upon thy head." The Rani was quick to encourage with praise the turn of opinion in her favor. "Now do I know, as I had ever believed," she cried joyfully, "that thou art all brave men. Within a week, I vow the Peshwa shall be proclaimed in Sindhia's palace. "And so," she added, "that we are no longer divided in this matter, I would select the one to go forward as my emissary to Sindhia. Ahmad's valor would entitle him to the dangerous mission, but that, without offense to any present, it would be better to dispatch a Hindu noble as an envoy to a Hindu prince. Otherwise the Maharaja may regard our aim as too much in the interest of the court of Delhi. Thus I would urge that Prasad Singh doth set forth immediately on this errand, while we close in upon his steps to-night." "I have said thy will shall be the order of our march, brave Rani," returned the Rao Sahib. "Prasad Singh will go as thy messenger to the Maharaja forthwith." The Rani turned toward her lover. "Go then, good Prasad," she enjoined, "and in thy most skillful manner seek to obtain for me an audience with Sindhia, at some place without the walls of Gwalior secure from treachery. Go, and may God's blessing rest upon thy head. "So, my Lords," she cried. "Let us to Gwalior with cautious speed, and good fortune smiling on our efforts." The nobles rose spontaneously and shouted with rekindled spirits: "To Gwalior! To Gwalior "! The cry was caught up by the soldiers on guard in the compound: "To Gwalior! To Gwalior! Death to the enemy. Victory for the Rani of Jhansi." Chapter XXII _VICTORY_