"Get water," he cried, "and throw over the idiot. Then, perhaps he will come to his senses." But Bipin had arrived at a realization of his position. He recognized Ahmad, and begged forgiveness for his mistake. "To be sure," he returned feebly. "Thou art my good friend, Ahmad Khan, though a little rough and quick in resenting an error of sight on coming in out of the darkness. I beseech thee to say no more about the pitcher of water." "That wilt depend how quickly thou canst gather thy wits," Ahmad sternly replied. "Surely every one of them are now in my head," answered Bipin, frightened at Ahmad's manner. While he endeavored to recollect how it was he had been induced to come to the place, he began to change his previous good opinion of the Mohammedan. "Then listen," enjoined Ahmad, "and speak truly or a torch applied to thy feet may quicken thy understanding. Dost know in which tent the Rani sleeps to-night"? As Bipin had not been to the camp, he was not possessed of the information, but under the circumstances he thought it best to withhold his ignorance. In any case, he reasoned, it was probable Ahmad would not place credence on his denial, and might carry his threat of the torch into effect. "Certainly, great sir," he replied. "If it be thy desire, I am ready to point out the Rani's tent." "Where is it situated"? Ahmad asked. This was a difficult question for Bipin to answer off-hand. He hesitated a moment before he replied. "Where is her tent placed"? Ahmad again demanded. "Great Lord," stammered Bipin, "near to,--I mean on the right of that occupied by her Valaiti guard." "Thou art assured of this"? "Noble sir, why should I tell a lie"? Bipin questioned in return. "Good, then," Ahmad resumed, bending a stern look on the secretary. "In two hours we set forth from the camp. When we arrive there, thou wilt point out the Rani's tent to one of my men. If thou hast spoken the truth, then thou canst go to the devil for aught I care; but if a lie, the Rani will herself have thee well beaten. It is her order that thou dost obey me in this," he added, in response to a surprised look on the secretary's face, "as she awaits a secret message that must fall into no other hands." Ahmad then withdrew to call down, as usual, the blessing of God on his evil intent; leaving Bipin in charge of an attendant. An attempt on the secretary's part to discover Ahmad's object further, was met by a silent repulse. Truly, the situation was not one to afford the secretary cheerful reflections. He knew no more than Ahmad of the position of the Rani's tent, but he trusted that in the scuffle likely to ensue, from an entry into a tent presumed to be that of the Rani, he could escape. He had told a lie in the first place, and was now afraid to disclose the truth. Whatever was the result, he vowed henceforth to transfer his watchful eye from Prasad to Ahmad, as it was evident the Mohammedan had a disagreeable, an unfriendly side to his nature.