Part 4 (1/2)

”But why has Hunsa brought this tale to men of affairs?” Sewlal queried.

Hunsa cast a furtive look over his shoulder toward the verandah, and his coa.r.s.e voice dropped a full octave. ”The Presence has observed Bootea, the one called Gulab Begum, who is with Ajeet Singh?”

”Ah-ha!” It was Nana Sahib's exclamation.

”Yes,” the Dewan answered drily.

”If a party of Bagrees were to go to the Pindari camp disguised as players and wrestlers, and the Gulab as a _nautchni_, Amir Khan might be enticed to her tent for she causes men to become drunk when she dances. Once she danced for Raja Karowlee, and, though he is old and fat and has more of wives than other possessions he became covetous of the girl. It is because of these things, that Ajeet keeps her within the length of his eye. Thus the Gulab would hold Amir Khan in her hand, and some night as he slept in her tent I would crawl neath the canvas and accomplish that which is desired.”

”By Jove!” Nana Sahib exclaimed, ”this jungle man has got the right idea. But if Ajeet goes on that trip he'll never come back--Hunsa will see to that.”

Then the son of the Peshwa took a quick turn to the door and gazed out as if he had his Arab in mind--something wrong; but a sweet bit of deviltry had suddenly occurred to him. He had noticed the young Englishman's interest in Bootea; had known that the girl's eyes had shown admiration for the handsome sahib. A woman--by Jove! yes. If he could bring the two of them together; have the Gulab get Barlow sensually interested she might act as a spy, get Barlow to talk. No instrument like a woman for that purpose. Nana Sahib turned back to where the Dewan had been questioning Hunsa.

”That description of the Gulab as a _nautch_ girl tickles my fancy, Dewani,” he said. ”Between ourselves I think the Resident's jackal, the impressionable young Captain, was rather taken with her. I'm giving a _nautch_ this week, and the presence of Miss Gulab is desired--commanded.”

”But Ajeet--”

Nana Sahib smiled sardonically. ”You and Hunsa are planning to send her on a more difficult mission, so I have no doubt that this can be accomplished. The Ajeet should esteem it an honour.”

The Dewan, also speaking in English, said, ”I doubt if Ajeet would consent to the girl's going to the Pindari camp.”

Nana Sahib swung on his heel to face Baptiste. ”Sirdar, when you give an order to a soldier and he refuses to obey, what do you do?”

”Pouf, _mon_ Prince,” and Jean Baptiste snapped a thumb and finger expressively.

”See, Dewani?” Nana Sahib queried; ”I like Hunsa's idea; and you've heard what the Commandant says.”

The Dewan turned to the Bagree, ”Will Ajeet consent to the Gulab acting thus?”

Hunsa's answer was illuminating: ”The Chief will agree to it if he can't help himself.”

There was a lull, each one turning this momentous thing over in his mind.

It was the jamadar who broke the silence; somewhat at a tangent he said: ”As to a decoity, Your Honour said that we being of that profession should undertake one.”

The Dewan roared; the burden of his expostulation was the word liar.

But Nana Sahib laughed tolerantly. ”Don't mind me, Dewani; fancy all the petty rajas and officials stand in with these decoits for a share of the loot--I don't blame you, old chap.”

Hunsa, taking the accusation of being a liar as a pure matter of course, ignored it, and now was drooling along, wedded to the one big idea that was in his mind:

”If a decoity were made perhaps it might even happen that one was killed--”

”Lovely! the 'One' will be, and his name is Ajeet,” Nana Sahib cried gleefully.

But Hunsa plodded steadily on. ”In that case Ajeet as Chief would be in the hands of the Dewan; then it could be mentioned to him that the Gulab was desired for this mission.”

”That might be,” the Dewan said quietly. ”I will demand that Ajeet takes the Gulab to help secure Amir Khan and if he refuses I will give them no rations so that he will go on the decoity.”

”No, Dewan Sahib,” Hunsa objected; ”say nothing of the Gulab, because Ajeet will refuse, and then he will not go on a decoity, fearing a trap. If you will refuse the rations now, I will say that you have promised that we will not be taken up if we make a decoity; then Ajeet will agree, because it is our profession.”