The girl finished her part by lightly springing from her elevated position, and prostrating herself before the nobles. Ahmad took from his waistband a handful of gold coins and tossed them to the girl. "Take them, O Ganga," he cried. "By _Allah_! Thou hast almost performed a miracle. Thou hast found favor in the eye of the inconsolable." A slight note of sarcasm marked the Mohammedan's concluding sentence. Far into the night the two nobles watched the repeated efforts of the dancing girls, stimulated by cups of wine, to outdo their previous displays of art. But after the first surprise on beholding Ganga's charms, Prasad relapsed within his cloud of dejection. At last, the early shafts of dawn penetrated the reed blinds and mingled their light with that of the silver lamps suspended from the roof; a warning that the moment of sunrise was at hand. Twittering of awakened birds, and the voices of men and beasts proclaimed for the multitude the passing of the hour from rest to labor. Prasad rose wearily from his recumbent position. "Ahmad," he exclaimed. "In truth, I feel as if I may be sick. Perchance thou wilt not be obliged to resort to subterfuge in my behalf." Ahmad turned a penetrating look toward his guest. "Thou wilt not attend the ceremony of to-day"? he asked. "As thou advisest," returned the other. "Do what thou thinkest best for me. I am sick with love, with jealousy, with I know not what, for yonder Rani." He turned and slowly made his way toward one of the exits from the room. Ahmad also rose to a standing posture. From the balcony of a minaret near by, the voice of a _Mollah_ resounded through the clear atmosphere. "There is but one God and Mohammed is the Prophet of God." Ahmad strode from the room to a porch facing the west. He knelt and reverentially bowed his forehead to the pavement. "Thanks be to God," he murmured devoutly, "for the countenance He turneth toward His servant." Then he uplifted his face to the brightening heavens. He stretched forth his arms above his head, as he cried in a deep, sonorous voice: _"Allah! Allah! Allah"!_ Chapter X _THE WHITE TURRET_ In the open space before the main entrance to the Rani's palace, a crowd of nobles, soldiers, and sightseers had collected. High mettled horses led by grooms, paced back and forth, while their owners in dazzling groups discussed the news of the morning. Peddlars of trifles, beggars, and ascetics, plied their various callings profitably in the interval awaiting the Rani's departure for the White Turret. Before the door a suite of officers and servants in gala liveries, surrounded a royal elephant, gorgeously caparisoned with plumes, and scarlet velvet cloths embroidered with gold thread. To its back was strapped a canopied state _houdah_ for the use of the Rani.