"My Lady Rani," the latter announced. "Ahmad Khan hath come to the palace. He urgently craves an audience with your Highness." The Rani's face expressed welcome surprise. "So," she cried. "Ahmad returns to caress the hand that sways his destiny. Fierce beast that he is. I--I am his mistress, aye, his master. "Come," she added, beckoning to Prasad. "Be watchful of thy temper, O good friend." When the Rani entered the room in which Ahmad was waiting, he saluted her with profound reverence. Thrice he made a courtly _salaam_ at a respectful distance. In his outward manner there was no sign of the arrogance which had marked his last abrupt entrance into her palace. Whatever conclusion the Rani drew from the glance directed toward him, she extended a friendly greeting. "Thou art welcome, Ahmad," she exclaimed, intimating her pleasure that he should draw nearer. "Thou art ever welcome to the Palace of the Rani. I trust thou art recovered from thy sickness." "Noble Lady," he replied, as if with an effort. "The physician had enjoined a longer period of confinement to my room; but the news from Shahpur made me hasten to thy side." The Rani started. "Hast thou heard from Sadescheo then"? she asked wistfully. "Of him rather than from him, noble Lady," replied Ahmad. "Sadescheo gathers troops about his fortress, so it is thy humble servant's advice that thou dost, without loss of time, dispatch a strong body to learn his reason." The Rani turned a searching look upon the Mohammedan. He met her gaze unflinchingly. [Illustration: "Then will I set forth to bring this dog of a Maharaja to his senses"?--Page 57.] "Noble Rani," he petitioned. "Thou hast good cause to doubt my faith and word. But, gracious Lady, hear my explanation. True is it that Bahadur Shah commanded me to protect the Government of Jhansi, but surely for thy sake. My people were carried away by their zeal and triumph over the Foreigners. They were guilty of an offense against thy authority. In the same enthusiasm of the hour I, too, lost control of my proper reverence for thy person. For this, noble Rani, I do seek thy pardon; and as evidence of my regret, I beg that thou wilt direct me to march instantly with three hundred Afghan troopers, who have arrived this morning without the city, and demand submission of this Sadescheo. Be assured if he does not comply speedily, I will rout his people like sheep before a band of wolves. In chains, at my horse's hoofs, will I drag him and his relatives hither." While Prasad gazed with wonder at the Mohammedan's altered manner, the Rani assured him that the past had already been forgotten. "Then will I set forth for Shahpur, noble Rani," he asked, "to bring this dog of a Maharaja to his senses"?