'Missy Sahib,' said Hoosanee, a smile breaking over his face, 'it was not so easy when you had gone. The ladies cried and sometimes they were unreasonable and doubted me, thinking that, as I had given you up, so I would give them up; and the storm beat upon us angrily, and it was with difficulty we dragged ourselves along. But on the second night we entered the gates of our city and one ran to tell our rajah and he met us.' 'And they were safe and well--Lucy and Kit's mother, and the baby and the other Mem Sahib?' 'They were safe. The rajah gave them lodging in his palace. But we did not see them again, for that very night we departed for the fort.' 'The fort? Dost Ali Khan's fort?' said Grace shuddering. 'That was where the wicked Soubahdar took me. But how did you know, Hoosanee?' 'It had been told to one of my lord's servants that we should find Missy Sahib there. Dost Ali Khan thought to buy the favour of my master by giving her up.' 'But I was not there, Hoosanee.' 'Let us give thanks to the Supreme Spirit!' said the Indian, bowing low. Grace gazed at him, speechless with wonder. 'The fort has gone,' he went on solemnly. 'Like a wild beast in its lair Dost Ali Khan was destroyed. The day after Missy Sahib was put out the English came up, and they made a mine secretly and the fort was blown to pieces.' 'With everyone within,' said Grace, whose eyes were distended with horror. 'My master and my master's servants escaped. Some few of the defenders may have left by the secret passage. All the others perished.' 'There was an English woman there,' said Grace. 'The woman who called herself the White Ranee, and to whom Dost Ali Khan the pretended ruler of the country did homage, was within the fort. She was slain,' said Hoosanee quietly. 'Slain!' echoed Grace. 'It is true, Missy Sahib. The rajah himself brought her dead out of the ruins. I saw her in his arms. He made a fire in the room where they had imprisoned him, and her body was consumed. Then he and I went out to meet the English.' While Hoosanee was speaking, Grace had covered her face with her hands. When she looked up she was as pale as death. 'Dead!' she murmured, 'Vivien dead! Is it true? Then God have mercy upon her!' She paused. Hoosanee did not speak, and after a few moments she went on, in a stifled voice, as if she were speaking to herself: 'I had been thinking of her, wondering how it would end. But it is best so--much best! Hoosanee,' suddenly, 'you must tell no one. Remember! It is a secret between you and me and the rajah.' 'I will remember, Missy Sahib.'