Part 24 (2/2)

”Well, Junior Rani, are you turned into a wooden doll? You have not spoken a word yet. Do you know, brother, our Junior Rani thinks I try to flatter you. If things came to that pa.s.s I should not hesitate to do so, but I know my dear old brother does not need it!”

Thus the Senior Rani chattered on, not forgetting now and then to draw her brother's attention to this or that special delicacy amongst the dishes that were being served. My head was all the time in a whirl. The crisis was fast coming. Something must be done about replacing that money. And as I kept asking myself what could be done, and how it was to be done, the unceasing patter of my sister-in-law's words seemed more and more intolerable.

What made it all the worse was, that nothing could escape my sister-in-law's keen eyes. Every now and then she was casting side glances towards me. What she could read in my face I do not know, but to me it seemed that everything was written there only too plainly.

Then I did an infinitely rash thing. Affecting an easy, amused laugh I said: ”All the Senior Rani's suspicions, I see, are reserved for me--her fears of thieves and robbers are only a feint.”

The Senior Rani smiled mischievously. ”You are right, sister mine. A woman's theft is the most fatal of all thefts. But how can you elude my watchfulness? Am I a man, that you should hoodwink me?”

”If you fear me so,” I retorted, ”let me keep in your hands all I have, as security. If I cause you loss, you can then repay yourself.”

”Just listen to her, our simple little Junior Rani!” she laughed back, turning to my husband. ”Does she not know that there are losses which no security can make good, either in this world or in the next?”

My husband did not join in our exchange of words. When he had finished, he went off to the outer apartments, for nowadays he does not take his mid-day rest in our room.

All my more valuable jewels were in deposit in the treasury in charge of the cas.h.i.+er. Still what I kept with me must have been worth thirty or forty thousand. I took my jewel-box to the Bara Rani's room and opened it out before her, saying: ”I leave these with you, sister. They will keep you quite safe from all worry.”

The Bara Rani made a gesture of mock despair. ”You positively astound me, Chota Rani!” she said. ”Do you really suppose I spend sleepless nights for fear of being robbed by you?”

”What harm if you did have a wholesome fear of me? Does anybody know anybody else in this world?”

”You want to teach me a lesson by trusting me? No, no! I am bothered enough to know what to do with my own jewels, without keeping watch over yours. Take them away, there's a dear, so many prying servants are about.”

I went straight from my sister-in-law's room to the sitting-room outside, and sent for Amulya. With him Sandip came along too. I was in a great hurry, and said to Sandip: ”If you don't mind, I want to have a word or two with Amulya. Would you...”

Sandip smiled a wry smile. ”So Amulya and I are separate in your eyes? If you have set about to wean him from me, I must confess I have no power to retain him.”

I made no reply, but stood waiting.

”Be it so,” Sandip went on. ”Finish your special talk with Amulya. But then you must give me a special talk all to myself too, or it will mean a defeat for me. I can stand everything, but not defeat. My share must always be the lion's share. This has been my constant quarrel with Providence. I will defeat the Dispenser of my fate, but not take defeat at his hands.” With a crus.h.i.+ng look at Amulya, Sandip walked out of the room.

”Amulya, my own little brother, you must do one thing for me,” I said.

”I will stake my life for whatever duty you may lay on me, sister.”

I brought out my jewel-box from the folds of my shawl and placed it before him. ”Sell or p.a.w.n these,” I said, ”and get me six thousand rupees as fast as ever you can.”

”No, no, Sister Rani,” said Amulya, touched to the quick. ”Let these jewels be. I will get you six thousand all the same.”

”Oh, don't be silly,” I said impatiently. ”There is no time for any nonsense. Take this box. Get away to Calcutta by the night train. And bring me the money by the day after tomorrow positively.”

Amulya took a diamond necklace out of the box, held it up to the light and put it back gloomily.

”I know,” I told him, ”that you will never get the proper price for these diamonds, so I am giving you jewels worth about thirty thousand. I don't care if they all go, but I must have that six thousand without fail.”

”Do you know, Sister Rani,” said Amulya, ”I have had a quarrel with Sandip Babu over that six thousand rupees he took from you?

I cannot tell you how ashamed I felt. But Sandip Babu would have it that we must give up even our shame for the country. That may be so. But this is somehow different. I do not fear to die for the country, to kill for the country--that much __Shakti__ has been given me. But I cannot forget the shame of having taken money from you. There Sandip Babu is ahead of me. He has no regrets or compunctions. He says we must get rid of the idea that the money belongs to the one in whose box it happens to be-- if we cannot, where is the magic of __Bande Mataram__?”

<script>