direct them, as soon as the shades of evening appear, to push forward at
hot speed towards the northern gate, which they may reach before they
are challenged. Should they succeed in passing through, they are to
gallop on to the palace, where they will find the rajah and such friends
as he may be able to rally round him. If they fail in the attempt, they
are to retire till they hear from his highness or me." Reginald, as he
spoke, put a piece of money into the mendicant's hand, to deceive any
who might have observed them speaking together.

"You shall be obeyed, sahib," said the mendicant, moving on, and
continuing as before to beg of all he met. Instead of going in the
direction he had been following, however, he contrived to turn round;
and Reginald saw him making his way in the direction of the northern
gate, as if bent on carrying out the orders he had received.

"So far our scheme prospers," thought Reginald; "but I wish that I had
the means of ascertaining where the rajah's grand-daughter has taken
refuge. Should the traitor Mukund Bhim have got her into his power, he
would have as little scruple in putting her to death as he would in
killing any of the rajah's sons. Poor young creature! I don't like to
increase the old man's anxieties by alluding to her, but he must tremble
at the thought of what may have become of her."

Notwithstanding the rajah's caution to Reginald, he could scarcely
refrain from going out and mixing with the crowd, to obtain information
of what was going on. Prudence, however, restrained him. He walked up
and down impatiently at his post, in the hope of seeing some one among
them who had frequented the court, and who he thought might be trusted;
but of the thousands who continued to hurry by he did not recognise a
single person. He forgot that all the time he was running a great risk
of being recognised himself; for although he had done his utmost, aided
by the worthy merchant, to change his appearance, he might easily have
been detected by any one who had before known him.

Thus the hours passed slowly away, and at length the shades of evening
began to steal over the city. On going up into the rajah's room,
Reginald found him habited in his usual costume, with a large robe ready
to throw over his shoulders, which, with the aid of the darkness of
night, would conceal his figure from those he might meet. His scimitar
was by his side, and a brace of pistols in his belt.

"The ti