"Yes, in Jhansi. Now look here, Vane," continued the Commissioner gravely. "Let us see how we stand. There is no doubt something horrible has taken place in Delhi." "Rumors only," interposed the other, "and even then an isolated case. That old rascal, Bahadur Shah, will soon be brought to his senses, and punished drop for drop of our blood." "I hope so," remarked the Commissioner. "But this morning I heard that the troops at Bareli had revolted and seized the place." "A band of marauders," added the soldier lightly. "They will be hanged when caught, every one of them. For my part, I fail to perceive how these scattered out-breaks are likely to affect us in Jhansi." "Yes, indirectly they may," the Commissioner persisted. "Now look here, Vane. Think a moment seriously, if you can do such a thing. Here we are a paltry hundred and fifty odd Europeans in the heart of India, far removed from the least chance of assistance." "We shall not need any," remarked the soldier emphatically. "If the people hereabout should create any disturbance, my men will soon deal with them. They have sworn to a unit that they will stand by their salt oath of allegiance. I have implicit confidence in them." "Granted! Granted that what you assert may be true," rejoined the Commissioner, "but to my mind the element of danger here lies in another direction." "Where pray"? demanded the other dubiously. They had passed the gate and were traversing the almost deserted bazaars. "Where pray"? he asked again, glancing along a row of empty stalls. "I confess, I fail to note any sign of it." "Perhaps not," rejoined the Commissioner, "but it is in evidence nevertheless. I refer to the Rani." "What, to that girl, the Rani," the officer exclaimed. "Nonsense! What mischief can she do. Her talons have been well pared for any evil that she might design." "My dear Vane," said the Commissioner sagely. "Never underestimate the power and resources of a woman, if she nourishes a grievance." "A grievance"? "Yes, frankly, though unofficially, I consider that she has a grievance--even a just one against us. Now what is her position? First, we took from her the estate of her affianced husband, that by her law she was clearly entitled to hold." "But transferred, I thought, according to the provisions of a treaty made with the late Raja." "True, but still she was none the less a heavy loser by it. Well then, by way of recompense for this, what did we do? We gave her a paltry $30,000 a year." "A devilish good allowance, I call it," flippantly interposed Vane. "I only wish I had $30,000 a year, and the Rani or the deuce might do what they pleased with Jhansi. Dear old Pall Mall would soon see me on the double." The Commissioner refused to notice his companion's light humor. "Out of that allowance," he proceeded, "small enough in all conscience for one in her position, we insisted on deducting a sinking fund to pay the late Raja's debts."