“Yes; but I shall come accompanied by my father, and Mr. Cunningham, and all the Rangars he can raise.  And I shall hold you to your bargain.  You must help the Company first.  First—­d’you understand?”

“I understand.”

It was Jaimihr’s turn now to lay the law down.  She had let him see her eagerness to gain his aid for the Company, and he saw the weakness of her case in an instant.  He knew very well, too, that no woman of her breed would have thought of consenting to marry him unless her hand was forced.  He decided immediately to force it further.

“I understand, sahiba.  I, too, will hold thee to thy promise!  Thou wilt come with an escort, as befits a prince’s wife!  But how should I know that the Rangars would prove friends of mine?  How should I know that it is not all a trap?”

“You will have my promise to depend on.”

“Truly!  And there will be how many hundred men to override the promise of one woman?  Nay!  My word is good; my promise holds; but on my own conditions!  Help me to escape.  Then follow me to Howrah City.  Come in advance of thy Rangar escort.  By that I will know that the Rangars and this Cunningham are my friends—­otherwise they would not let thee come.  The Rangars are to exact guarantees from my brother?  How should I know that they do not come to help my brother crush me out of existence?  With thee in my camp as hostage I would risk agreement with them, but not otherwise.  Escape with me now, or follow.  But bring no Rangars, sahiba!  Come alone!”

“I will not.  I would not dare trust you.”

Jaimihr laughed.  “I have been reckoning, sahiba, how many hours will pass before my army comes to rip this nest of Alwa’s from its roots, and defile the whole of it!  If I am to spare the people on this rock, then I must hurry!  Should my men come here to carry me away, they will be less merciful than I!  Choose, sahiba!  Let me go, and I will spare these Rangars until such time as they earn punishment anew.  Or let me go, and follow me.  Then fight with the Rangars and for the Company, with thee as the price of my alliance.  Or leave me in this cell until my men come to rescue me.  The last would be the simplest way!  Or it would be enough to help me escape and wait until I have done my share at conquering the British.  Then I could come and claim thee!  Choose, sahiba; there are many ways, though they all end in one goal.”

“If I am the price of your allegiance,” said Rosemary, “then I will pay the price.  Five thousand men for the British cause are dearer to me than my own happiness.  I promise, Jaimihr-sahib, that I will come to you in Howrah.  I shall come accompanied by one servant, named Joanna, and—­I think—­by my father; and the Rangars and Mr. Cunningham shall be at least a day’s ride behind me.  I give my word on that.  But —­I can promise you, on Mr. Cunningham’s behalf, and on the Alwa-sahib’s, and Mahommed Gunga’s, that should you have made any attempt against my liberty—­should you have offered me any insult or indignity—­before they come—­should you have tried to anticipate the terms of your agreement—­then—­then—­there would be an end of bargaining and promises, Jaimihr-sahib, and your life would be surely forfeit!  Do you understand?”