Part 28 (2/2)
”Gone where?”
”To Calcutta?”
”No,” chuckled Sandip.
Ah, then my blessing had come true, in spite of all. He was saved. Let G.o.d's punishment fall on me, the thief, if only Amulya be safe.
The change in my countenance roused Sandip's scorn. ”So pleased, Queen!” sneered he. ”Are these jewels so very precious? How then did you bring yourself to offer them to the G.o.ddess? Your gift was actually made. Would you now take it back?”
Pride dies hard and raises its fangs to the last. It was clear to me I must show Sandip I did not care a rap about these jewels.
”If they have excited your greed,” I said, ”you may have them.”
”My greed today embraces the wealth of all Bengal,” replied Sandip. ”Is there a greater force than greed? It is the steed of the great ones of the earth, as is the elephant, Airauat, the steed of Indra. So then these jewels are mine?”
As Sandip took up and replaced the casket under his cloak, Amulya rushed in. There were dark rings under his eyes, his lips were dry, his hair tumbled: the freshness of his youth seemed to have withered in a single day. Pangs gripped my heart as I looked on him.
”My box!” he cried, as he went straight up to Sandip without a glance at me. ”Have you taken that jewel-box from my trunk?”
”Your jewel-box?” mocked Sandip.
”It was my trunk!”
Sandip burst out into a laugh. ”Your distinctions between mine and yours are getting rather thin, Amulya,” he cried. ”You will die a religious preacher yet, I see.”
Amulya sank on a chair with his face in his hands. I went up to him and placing my hand on his head asked him: ”What is your trouble, Amulya?”
He stood straight up as he replied: ”I had set my heart, Sister Rani, on returning your jewels to you with my own hand. Sandip Babu knew this, but he forestalled me.”
”What do I care for my jewels?” I said. ”Let them go. No harm is done.
”Go? Where?” asked the mystified boy.
”The jewels are mine,” said Sandip. ”Insignia bestowed on me by my Queen!”
”No, no, no,” broke out Amulya wildly. ”Never, Sister Rani! I brought them back for you. You shall not give them away to anybody else.”
”I accept your gift, my little brother,” said I. ”But let him, who hankers after them, satisfy his greed.”
Amulya glared at Sandip like a beast of prey, as he growled: ”Look here, Sandip Babu, you know that even hanging has no terrors for me. If you dare take away that box of jewels ...”
With an attempt at a sarcastic laugh Sandip said: ”You also ought to know by this time, Amulya, that I am not the man to be afraid of you.”
”Queen Bee,” he went on, turning to me, ”I did not come here today to take these jewels, I came to give them to you. You would have done wrong to take my gift at Amulya's hands. In order to prevent it, I had first to make them clearly mine. Now these my jewels are my gift to you. Here they are! Patch up any understanding with this boy you like. I must go. You have been at your special talks all these days together, leaving me out of them. If special happenings now come to pa.s.s, don't blame me.
”Amulya,” he continued, ”I have sent on your trunks and things to your lodgings. Don't you be keeping any belongings of yours in my room any longer.” With this parting shot, Sandip flung out of the room.
XIX
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