'Could it have been at Lucknow? I was with my master there.' 'At the door of the Dilkoosha,' cried Grace excitedly. 'Yes, I remember. Your master was the man in the long chuddah, who was watching the crowd. I saw his face when he looked at Sir Henry. It was as a man looks in prayer. He came into the reception afterwards.' 'Miss Sahib has a good memory,' said Hoosanee; 'but let me entreat her to speak with more caution!' 'Caution! Caution!' said the poor girl. 'I shall die of caution. I wish no ill to these people. Why should they wish ill to me?' 'Even because of your goodness--and your beauty,' said Hoosanee in a low voice. Grace trembled. But before she could speak again Lucy came running out. 'What an untidy girl you are, Grace!' she said. 'Ayah and I hunted everywhere for your necklace, and found it at last in your bath-room. You deserve to be robbed, and only that these people are ten times better than they are painted you would be.' 'But how about the stones?' said Grace, making an effort to speak lightly. 'Well! I think they are all right. They look very much the same. But I am such a little idiot about these things, and so are you, my dear--worse, I think--because you believe everybody. Oh, dear! I do wish I could have a trustworthy opinion.' 'Mrs. Durant is considered a good judge of Indian jewellery,' said Grace. 'Why, of course she is,' cried Lucy, clapping her hands. 'You have a head, if you have nothing else; I will say that for you, Grace. And I wanted to hear how Colonel Durant was received by the troops this morning. Ayah, tell them to bring round the palki-gharry at once. Too late!' in answer to a mild protest from Grace. 'Why the sun isn't up yet--and I'll try to bring her back with me, shall I? She has just arrived, and has something to talk of besides servants and mutineers.' 'Do!' said Grace; 'and bring my little lover, Kit, too, if you can. I will keep the pedlar.' In a few moments Lucy, accompanied by her ayah, drove off, and Grace turned her pale face to Hoosanee. 'Go on,' she said. 'Your master has sent you. He is the Rajah of Gumilcund.' 'You are right, most noble lady. My master, the rajah, has sent me. He has only lately come to rule over us; but already he knows the hearts of his people. He loves the English, and he would, if he could, avert these troubles. But he knows it to be impossible. The storm has broken, and it will sweep over the land and devastate it, and none can stay its course. This he bids me tell you, beseeching you to seek a refuge while you can.'