Two days later, when the fires were extinguished and the populace had settled back into its former habits, this majordomo betook himself to Umballa’s house.  It was well guarded, and by men who had never been close to Umballa, but had always belonged to the dissatisfied section, the frankly and openly mutinous section.  No bribery was possible here; at least, nothing short of a fabulous sum of money would dislodge their loyalty to Ramabai, now the constitutional regent.  No one could leave the house or enter it without scrutiny and question.

The servants and the women of the zenana remained undisturbed.  Ramabai would have it so.  Things had been put in order.  There had not been much damage done by the looters on the day of the revolt.  They had looked for treasure merely, and only an occasional bit of vandalism had marked their pathway.

On the pain of death no soldier might enter the house.

The majordomo was permitted to enter without question.  He passed the guards humbly.  But once inside, beyond observation, he became a different man.  For in Umballa’s house, as in Ramabai’s, there were secret chambers, and to-day the majordomo entered one of them—­through a panel concealed behind a hanging Ispahan rug.

On the night after the revolt, Umballa, sober and desperate, had slunk back disguised as a candy seller.  The house was not guarded then; so he had no difficulty in gaining admittance.  But he had to gain entrance through a window in the zenana.  He would not trust either his servants, his slaves, or his chief eunuch.  To the women of his own zenana he had always been carelessly kind, and women are least bribable of the two sexes.

Umballa entered at once his secret chamber and food and water were brought, one of the women acting as bearer.  On the morning after the guards arrived, and Umballa knew not how long he might have to wait.  Through one of the women he sent a verbal message to the majordomo with the result that each day he learned what was taking place in the palace.  So they hunted for the king.

He was very well satisfied.  He had had his revenge; and more than this, he was confident when the time came he would also gain his liberty.  He had a ransom to pay:  the king himself!

Now then, Ramabai felt it incumbent on him to hold a banquet in the palace, there to state to his friends, native and white, just what he intended to do.  And on the night of this sober occasion he sat in the throne room before a desk littered with documents.  As he finished writing a note he summoned the majordomo.

“Have this delivered at once to Hare Sahib, whom you will find at his bungalow outside the city.  Tell him also that he must be present to-night, he, his friend and his daughters.  It is of vital importance.”

Pundita, who was staring out of the window, turned and asked her lord what he was sending the Colonel Sahib that he could not give him at the banquet.