ly.

"The light of my lord's heart is sick. She bore up till she arrived here
and was handed over to the women. Then her strength failed her, and she
fainted. She recovered, but she is lying weak and exhausted with all
that she has gone through and suffered."

"Where is she now?"

"She is in the zenana, looking out into the women's court, that no men
are ever allowed to enter."

"Has the Rajah seen her?"

"No, sahib. He was told the state that she was in, and the chief lady
of the zenana sent him word that for the present she must have quiet and
rest, but that in two or three days she might be fit to see him."

"That is something," Bathurst said thankfully. "Now we shall have time
to think of some scheme for getting her out."

"You have been in the zenana yourself, Rabda?" Rujub asked.

"Yes, father; the mistress of the zenana saw me directly an attendant
told her I was there. She has always been kind to me. I said that you
were going on a journey, and asked her if I might stay with her and act
as an attendant until you returned, and she at once assented. She asked
if I should see you before you left, and when I said yes, she asked if
you could not give her some spell that would turn the Rajah's thoughts
from this white girl. She fears that if she should become first favorite
in the zenana, she might take things in her hands as English women do,
and make all sorts of changes. I told her that, doubtless, the English
girl would do this, and that I thought she was wise to ask your
assistance."

"You are mad, Rabda," her father said angrily; "what have I to do with
spells and love philters?"

"No, father, I knew well enough you would not believe in such things,
but I thought in this way I might see the lady, and communicate with
her."

"A very good idea, Rabda," Bathurst said. "Is there nothing you can do,
Rujub, to make her odious to the Nana?"

"Nothing, sahib. I could act upon some people's minds, and make them
think that the young lady was afflicted by some loathsome disease, but
not with the Nana. I have many times tried to influence him, but without
success: his mind is too deep for mine to master, and between us there
is no sympathy. Could I be present with him and the girl I might do
something--that is, if the powers that aid me would act against him; but
this I do not think."

"Rujub," Bathurst said suddenly, "there must have been medical stores
taken when the camp was captured--drugs and things of