"So," she cried. "Like too many others he forgets the precepts of his caste. This, I did not think of Prasad. The spirits of the Foreigners! Truly one of the many curses brought to India in their civilizing wake." She concluded with intense bitterness in her voice. "Noble Rani," continued Ahmad. "It was to draw him from the evil habit that I took him to my house; but alas! by some means he procured the _Giours'_ intoxicating drink, and--" He checked himself suddenly as if he would draw back from disclosing a moral precipice yawning beneath Prasad's life. "And," caught up the Rani quickly. "And what more, good Ahmad Khan. What more hast thou to tell of Prasad"? "Noble Rani," he petitioned with apparent earnestness. "I implore thee now to close my mouth." "Nay, thou shalt open it the wider," she rejoined. "Speak, tell all thou knowest, I command thee." "Miserable, faithless friend, that I must appear," he exclaimed self reproachfully. "Thou wouldst be a disloyal servant if thou didst not obey thy Rani," she retorted. "Come! It is the Rani who commands thee." He spoke in a tone of regretful emotion. "Thou hast heard, noble Rani, of the charms of a certain _natch_ girl, Ganga, by name"? he asked. "Aye," she replied tersely. "Alas! then," continued Ahmad. "The noble Prasad lyeth sick or drunk, I know not which, of the Giours' spirits and the subtle influence of this dancer of Kashmir." For a moment even Ahmad quailed before the display of jealous anger on the Rani's face. She raised her arm with a threatening gesture as if about to give full play to her resentment; but as suddenly as the flame of passion had been called forth, as quickly it yielded to her control of temperament. "Go," she commanded in a quiet voice, made more impressive by the emotion with difficulty suppressed. "Go, tell Prasad Singh, the Rani orders his presence hither immediately. If he delays, he may mount his horse and ride forth from her state. "I have spoken," she concluded, turning from the Mohammedan. "Noble Lady," petitioned Ahmad, "thou dost not blame thy servant for disclosing that which his conscience had enjoined him to conceal. Alas! Prasad hath eaten of Ahmad's salt." "Thou hast obeyed my command," she replied. "In so doing thou didst well." Ahmad bowed low and left the apartment. The Rani turned again to watch his retreating form. When it had disappeared from view, sorrowfully she unfettered her emotion. "Oh! that Prasad--Prasad, whom as a woman I have loved, and as the Rani I would honor, should appear in such a weak, a worthless light. Prasad, my Prasad," she cried, "that thou of all men shouldst be the shadow to darken my hour of happiness." A sob broke from her lips. She covered her face with her hands. Chapter XI A SHREWD DIAGNOSIS In spite of the Rani's urgent dispatch, Ahmad returned leisurely to his house. If gravity rested on his face, his spirit was grimly elated at the successful progress of his design upon Prasad.