"Your Highness," he began, addressing the Rani. "The Commissioner and Captain Sahibs will shortly arrive at the palace to seek an audience. I have been sent forward to acquaint you of their visit." The Rani stepped close to the officer and scrutinized his features. Then she grasped him tightly by the sleeve of his jacket. "Thou art the Jamadar Golab Das"? she interrogated. "As thou sayest, noble Rani." "Tell me, O Golab," she besought anxiously. "Have they heard? Have the eyes of the Foreigners been opened? Hath a traitor whispered in their ears"? "They sleep on, all thy people are faithful," the officer returned significantly. A sigh of relief escaped the Rani's lips. "It is well," she exclaimed. "Then I will see the Foreign Sahibs. Go, carry them that message." The officer again saluted and left her presence. As if a sudden inspiration had gained possession of the Rani's mind, she turned to Ahmad and spoke authoritatively. "It is my will to see the Foreign Sahibs alone in the _Darbar_ hall." He made a gesture as if about to protest against her purpose. "Nay," she continued, "Nay, good Ahmad. It is the best plan. If they see me unattended they will be less suspicious. Go, order everyone to hide from view. Let not a face be seen or a voice heard. Let these walls be as silent as a tomb--aye even as the tomb that these Foreigners have built about my life, depriving me of what was justly mine. The palace sleeps, they will say. This woman can do no harm." She gracefully recognized the Mohammedan noble's bow, signifying his compliance to her order, and moved quickly to a door leading to her private apartments. At the southern gate of the city, the two Foreign Sahibs, attended by a Native orderly, were met by Golab Das, bearing the Rani's reply. "Well Jamadar," said the military officer, "What does the Rani say? Did you see her personally"? "I saw the Princess, your Excellency," returned the Jamadar. "She bade me say that she waits to learn the pleasure of your will." "Tell me, Jamadar," continued the officer. "Was there any sign of uneasiness about the palace? People gathering, or additions being made to the Rani's bodyguard"? "My eyes beheld no such gathering of people," returned the Jamadar laconically. "The Rani's servants are resting from the heat." The officer ordered his subordinate to return to the cantonments. As they moved forward he turned a look of satisfaction toward his companion. "Well Hawksley," said he. "I doubt after all if we shall have the fun yet of cutting our way through a mass of fanatics." The Commissioner's face maintained a thoughtful expression. "I did not anticipate that we would," he returned. "Yes, but you are as full of gloomy forebodings as any old fortune teller," asserted the other. "Oh! not at all," exclaimed the Commissioner, "only I think the situation more serious than the rest of us are inclined to regard it." "What in Jhansi"?