They sat and chatted together in low tones. Hoosanee did not catch all they said; but he judged that they were anxious. Suddenly Grace, whom her cousin accused of being in a fidgety humour, thought of another errand, and the table-servant vanished. The bearer was sent after him, so that, before they had finished their breakfast, there was no one about but the ayah, who was squatted in the corner of the verandah, opposite to that occupied by Hoosanee, watching him sleepily. To see the two English ladies alone was precisely what Hoosanee wanted. He now waited their pleasure with a lighter heart. Breakfast over, they approached his corner, and while Lucy fingered his trinkets, asking the price of one and another, Grace continued to look at him earnestly. He ventured now to allow his eyes to respond. Then he said in a low voice, 'Does my noble lady understand Bengali?' The question was asked in the Bengali dialect. 'Yes,' said Grace, quietly. 'Are you from Bengal?' 'What gibberish are you talking now?' interposed Lucy, discontentedly. 'Do let us keep to business. Tell me the price of this?' holding up a pretty little garnet brooch. '_Tin rupya_,' said the man, spreading out three of his long fingers. 'Too little if they're real--too much if they're not,' said Lucy in English. Then in Hindustani, with a little affectation of sternness, 'If you cheat me I will have you put in prison.' 'Why not take it into the house and compare it with my garnet necklace?' said Grace. 'Ayah will show you where it is.' 'Not a bad idea,' said Lucy. She went in, the ayah following her, and Grace said hurriedly, in the dialect in which the salesman had just spoken, 'You have come to speak to us. From whom?' 'From one who wishes my noble lady well,' said Hoosanee. He paused, and then, 'Will my lady deign to look at these poor baubles instead of at her servant? In these evil days the leaves and the flowers have eyes.' 'Not here,' said Grace. 'Our servants, I am sure, would be faithful, for we have treated them well, and they love us; and the soldiers of the station have professed their goodwill and devotion. We did not ask them. They came forward of their own accord; if'--her large eyes distending--'I were only as sure of the safety of others as I am of our own, I should be happy. But we are strangely cut off here.' They were continuing the little pantomime which the salesman had originated, and their voices were low and even. 'My noble lady is wrong,' he said, holding up one of his brooches to the light. 'Does the eagle who looks into the face of the sun behold, far below him, the fowler with his snare? Does the king of the forest, roaming at his will, see in the jungle the iron teeth gaping to devour him?' 'What do you mean, and who are you?' cried Grace. 'I am sure you are no mere salesman.' 'Such as I am, does my noble lady trust me?' 'Yes, yes. I cannot tell myself why, but I do. It seems to me that I have seen your face before.'