Had there not been unrest abroad he would have scorned
to pay any attention to these warnings; but this Ramabai--may he burn
in hell!--was a power with the populace, with low and high castes
alike, and for the first time, now that he gave the matter careful
thought, his own future did not look particularly clear. More than
ever he must plan with circumspection. He must trap Ramabai, openly,
lawfully, in the matter of sedition.

Imagine his astonishment when, a few minutes after his arrival, Ramabai
and Pundita demanded audience, the one straight of back and proud of
look, the other serene and tranquil! Umballa felt a wave of bland
[Transcriber's note: blind?] hatred surge over him, but he gave no
sign. Ramabai stated his case briefly. Colonel Hare and his daughter
were being held prisoners for ransom. Three bags of silver--something
like five thousand rupees--were demanded by the captors.

The council looked toward Umballa, who nodded, having in mind the part
of the good Samaritan, with reservations, to be sure. Having trod the
paths of the white man, he had acquired a certain adroitness in holding
his people. They had at best only the stability of chickens. What at
one moment was a terror was at another a feast. For the present, then,
he would pretend that he had forgot all about Ramabai's part in the
various unsuccessful episodes.

To the council and the gurus (or priests) he declared that he himself
would undertake to assume the part of envoy; he himself would bring the
legal king of Allaha back to his throne. True, the daughter had been
crowned, but she had forfeited her rights. Thus he would return with
Colonel Hare as soon as he could make the journey and return.

"He is contemplating some treachery," said Ramabai to his wife. "I
must try to learn what it is."

In his shop in the bazaars Lal Singh had resumed his awl. He had, as a
companion, a bent and shaky old man, whose voice, however, possessed a
resonance which belied the wrinkles and palsied hands.

"The rains," said Lal Singh, "are very late this year. Leather will be
poor."

"Aye."

All of which signified to Ahmed that the British Raj had too many
affairs just then to give proper attention to the muddle in Allaha.

"But there is this man Ramabai. He runs deep."

"So!"

"He has been conspiring for months."

"Then why does he not strike?"

"He is wary. He is wary; a good sign." Lal Singh reached for his pipe
and set the wa