"And those bones," was the sententious remark of Shireen, who was listening, "not even the voice of Ezekiel could, as we are told it once did, call back to life, as it called the dead Israelites of old." "A fortunate thing for us, Khan," said the irreverent Zohrab, laughingly. "Why?" "I mean, if the result was to be the same; for all arose and lived for years after; and is it not written that they moved among living men with a stench and colour of corpses, and had to wear garments blackened with pitch?" "That weary Koran again!" murmured Rose; while the Khan frowned, and, to change the subject, said, "Tell us, Zohrab, more about the Feringhee damsel whom this lady deems must be her sister, and your plans regarding her." "I fear she could not be prevailed upon to trust herself to me under any pretext, or to leave the companionship of her friends in misfortune without some assurance that she who is with you, Khan Shireen, is indeed her sister in blood." "Most true," said Shireen, running his brown fingers through his dense beard with an air of perplexity. "Oh, that may be easily arranged," said Denzil, full of hope at the prospect of seeing Mabel, of the joy it would afford Rose, and the wish to learn from her own lips all that had happened to so many dear friends since that terrible day when so many thousands perished, and so many were separated never to meet more. Thus, he suggested that Rose should entrust Zohrab with a note to be delivered, on the first convenient opportunity, to Mabel, or the lady who was supposed to be she. Zohrab did not care about her identity the value of a cowrie-shell, provided his own plans succeeded. "And you shall bring her here without delay?" said Shireen, while he knit his bushy and impending eyebrows. "Where else would she be safe, Khan?" "Not with you, at all events," was the dubious response. Zohrab coloured perceptibly, and a covert gleam flashed in his glossy black eyes, as he said, "My head may answer for this project, Khan, if I am taken." "Taken--how? Do you mean to fly?" asked Shireen, with another keen glance. "Nay--nay; not if I can help it," stammered Zohrab, who saw that the Khan's sunken eyes were full of strange light. "If it becomes known that she is here, the fact will embroil me with Ackbar; but, bah! what matter is it?" said Shireen, proudly. "The city is divided against him, and he knows I can bring five thousand red caps into the field; and she will be one more prisoner for Shireen of the Kuzzilbashes!" he muttered under his beard. "Go then, Zohrab; go and prosper." "May I not accompany him?" asked Denzil, eagerly, as for months he had never been beyond the wall and ditch of the fort, and he longed to make a reconnaissance with a future eye to escape. "Nay," said Zohrab, "you know not what you propose, Sahib. Your presence would but encumber me, and add to the lady's peril: it is not to be thought of."