"Prasad Singh"! he ejaculated. "Noble Lady," he protested, "for aught I know to the contrary Prasad Singh _may_ possess all these qualities and more. Untried in any important affair, he _may_ prove to be a great captain, though in our little ride to Shahpur, but for the banter of his rough companion, I think he would more than once have turned back. But Prasad surely is a good comrade and a handsome fellow, even if his name doth not hover on my lips." "Whose name dost thou have in mind, then"? asked the Rani somewhat perplexed. "It is the young officer Dost Ali, noble Lady," replied Ahmad confidentially. "Thou wilt have heard his father was a Maratha who was driven into exile by the Foreigners, and dying left his young son to the protection of the illustrious Dost Mohammed. Brought up by such a leader, he has well learned the trade of arms. By birth a Hindu and a Mohammedan by adoption, both factions in the state might well unite to serve under him. Moreover, such action on thy part would surely please the great Amir of Afghanistan, some of whose troopers are now a part of thy forces, and whose doubtful attitude toward the Foreigners might thereby be determined in support of India's cause." The Rani turned from Ahmad and gazed out of a window pensively. There was forming quickly in her mind an ulterior object that might be promoted by following Ahmad's suggestion. Among her older officers there was a marked disposition to regard her opinion in military affairs lightly, as that of a mere girl whose judgment in such matters could be of no value. A younger man, susceptible to her personal charm, would, she thought, be more likely to follow, unhesitatingly, the dictates of her will. "Thou hast observed the young officer of whom I speak, my Rani"? Ahmad asked with a shade of anxiety in his voice, as he waited on her answer. "Truly I have," she answered. "I have remarked him well several times. I like his manner and appearance. There is much discernment in what thou sayest. For a space I will think over it, and to-morrow make known my decision." Ahmad _salaamed_ low and withdrew from her presence. So far, he was satisfied with the favorable view the Rani seemed to take of his covert plan of installing a _protégé_ of his own in one of the most important offices of the government, and the deeper project of eventually destroying his rival by that means. The Rani proceeded to an inner court, and called her chief waiting woman to her side. "Rati," she began. "I am curious to know what other women--the ladies of the _zananas_--think of me. Tell me, O Rati, thou who learnest such things, what is the opinion in such places of Lachmi Bai"? The girl looked nonplussed. "Speak truly," enjoined the Rani. "Flattery enough I can have for the wish." The girl's uneasiness increased visibly. "Noble Rani. They say. They say"--she hesitated. "Yes, what do they say"? the Rani demanded impatiently.