"For you to urge patience upon me is a novelty," said Gerrard, rather bitterly, but his step was less resolute as he tramped about the tent. Suddenly he sat down opposite Charteris. "Bob, I begin to think you are not so very far wrong. At any rate I'll wait before doing it. Who's that out there?" he cried sharply, as a shadow moved outside. "Heaven-born!" Rukn-ud-din rose from his crouching position and saluted in the doorway. "It was told in the ears of this slave that your honour was very wrathful concerning the escape of the brother-slayer, and he presumed to approach unbidden with news." "And what is the news?" demanded Gerrard, still ruffled. "That the man who escaped was not Rajah Sher Singh at all, sahib." "What! you mean that he is among the prisoners?" "Not so, sahib. He has never left the city." "But what--what reason have you for thinking so?" "Does your honour think that the men who have been led by Sher Singh into their present evil case would permit him to forsake them? Surely they would hold him fast." "No doubt they would if they could, but I imagine he has given them the slip. Would he send his wife away without him?" "Sahib, the woman says she is the Rani, but I think she is merely a slave-girl playing a part. If the Rajah wished the troops of the Company to believe he had escaped, would he not have devised just such a plot as this, sending forth a party intended for capture, that they might bear the news?" "It struck me as so characteristic of Sher Singh to sneak away and leave his women to be captured that I should never have thought of doubting it," said Gerrard in perplexity to Charteris, who took up the questioning. "But what good could it do to Sher Singh that we should think he had escaped, Komadan-ji?" "That your honours would not look for him in the city when it falls," replied Rukn-ud-din promptly. "If there is some hiding-place in which he may seek safety"--Gerrard's eyes met those of Charteris with sudden enlightment--"he might remain there in peace, and creep out when all is quiet again. But do not take my word for it, sahib. Only, if there is no news of Sher Singh's seeking support in the north, and bringing an army against us, remember what I have said." "It is well. We will remember," said Gerrard. "Say nothing of this to any one, unless it be to Amrodh Chand." "It is an order, sahib." Rukn-ud-din received leave to depart, and melted silently away. Gerrard looked at Charteris again. "The treasury!" he cried breathlessly. "'Pon my word, that's it. Unless--I told you how they broke into the passage, you know, and after the treasure was got out, Sher Singh ordered the place to be destroyed." "D'ye think he did it, Bob?" "I don't, if you ask me. I think it was a do." "Exactly, and he has secured himself a comfortable underground retreat, with two exits, both of which are known to us. We shall catch him like a rat in a trap, if we keep our own counsel."