Part 21 (1/2)
”Good Then Sita Raave her a little silver tube, capped at either end and sealed heavily ax
”There is a writing inside it--done in Persian Hide that under the stone, and let Tom Tripe search the cellar and find it there; but forbid hi at!” said Tess with a wry sa between point-blank refusal and delay that would give her tie, was adept at feeling her way nicely Again she lay back on the cushi+on, and this ti lazily
”The stake that I a for--the stake that I shall surely win,” she said after ato be risked If you are afraid, let us forget all that I have said Let us be friends and nothing nized the appeal to her own pride, and ignored it What she was thinking of was Gungadhura's beastliness-- his atteenerally-- his cruelty to animals in the arena--his viciousness; and then, of how irl would likely be than ever Gungadhura could be kingly It was te Yasadhura on the throne of Sialpore if the chance of doing it were real
Yasuess them
”When I aadhura's swinishness Moreover, promises will all be kept, unwritten ones as well as written Gungadhura's contracts will be carried out Do you believe me?”
”Yes, I think I believe that”
”Let Tom Tripe find that silver tube in your cellar then But listen! When Gungadhura co elsewhere, let your husband bargain like a huckster! Let hiadhura will let his, and will hi in the other place In that case, well and good”
”I would prefer that, said Tess ”My husband is a ineer
I think he would hate to abandon a true lead for a whilea in those days to bend people to her own imperious will and to use others'
virtues for own ends as readily as their vices She recognized the necessity of yielding to Tess's co that dick Blaine would color his own views prettyability peculiar to her she sa to i
”That is settled, then,” she said lazily ”Your husband shall continue to dig near the fort, if he so wishes But let hiold--how little it is--how feeble--how uncertain Be sure he does that, please That will be the end of Gungadhura And now it is time to escape froned herself to the inevitable Whatever the consequences, she was not willing to leave Yasmini to starve or be poisoned
”I'm ready!” she said ”What's the plan?”
”I shall leave all theIn the , after it is known that I have escaped, word shall be sent to Sa but poisoned food to eat Hewith the English”
”But hoill you escape?”
”Nay, that is not the difficulty Your husband and Toe My part is easy This is the problem: hoill you follow me?”
”I don't understand”
”I uard, e?”
”You must do as I say I can contrive it Come, the maids and I will make a true Rajputni of you Only Iin front of h that door into my room I will study how youback as she followed Hasamurti, Tess witnessed a caricature of herself that h until the tears caan in hunger, like the young hter without ht dawn--and after that, success!”
Chapter Eight
An Elephant Interlude