“A likely tale!”

“Was it a likely tale that Chamu would repay his son’s debt?”

“Well—­I will take the hazard.  Bring them in.  But I will not feed them.  And if you fail to come for them before dawn I will turn them out and it shall be all over Sialpore that the Princess Yasmini—­”

“One moment, Mukhum Dass!  If one word of this escapes your lips for a month to come, you shall go to jail for receiving stolen money in payment of a debt!  My name was on the money that Chamu paid you with.  You knew he stole it.”

“I did not know!”

“Prove that in court, then!”

“Bring the women in!” he grumbled.  “I am no cackler from the roofs!”

Yasmini did not wait for him to change his mind but shepherded her scared dependents through the door, and called for Ismail.

“Did you see these women enter?” she demanded.

“Aye.  I saw.  Have I not eyes?”

“Stay thou here outside and watch.  Afterward, remember, if I say nothing, be thou dumb as Tom Tripe’s dog.  But if I give the word, tell all Sialpore that Mukhum Dass is a satyr who holds revels in his house by night.  Bring ten other men to swear to it with thee, until the very children of the streets shout it after him when he rides his rounds!  Hast thou understood?  Silence for silence!  But talk for talk!  Hast thou heard, too, Mukhum Dass?  Good!  Shut thy door tight, but thy mouth yet tighter!  And try rather to take liberties with hornets than with those five women!”

Before he could answer she was gone, leaving Ismail lurking in the shadows.  Tess had dismounted from behind Tom Tripe and climbed up beside her husband so that there were three on the front seat again.

“Now, Tom Tripe!” Yasmini ordered, speaking with the voice of command that Tom himself would have used to a subordinate.  “Do you as the elephant did, and cause distraction.  Draw Gungadhura off the scent!”

“Hell’s bells, deary me, Your Ladyship!” he answered.  “All the drawing I’ll do after this night’s work will be my last month’s pay, and lucky if I see that!  Lordy knows what the guard’ll tell the maharajah, nor what his rage’ll add to it!”

“Nonsense!  Gungadhura and the guard ran from the elephant like dust before the wind.  The guards are the better men, and will be back at their post before this; but Gungadhura must find a discreet physician to bind a slit face for him!  Visit the guard now, and get their ear first.  Tell them Gungadhura wants no talk about tonight’s work.  Then come to Blaine sahib’s house and search the cellar by lamplight, letting Chalmu the butler see you do it, but taking care not to let him see what you see.  What you do see, leave where it lies!  Then see Gungadhura early in the morning—­”

“Lordy me, Your Ladyship, he’ll—­”