admission, and threatening to order the guard to break the gate in if refused.

"What harm can he do?" demanded Tess. "He won't dare try any violence
in front of me. Let us change clothes again."

Yasmini laughed at her.

"A prince on a horse may ride from harm," she answered. "When princes
walk, let other folk 'ware trouble! He comes to have his will on me.
Those eunuchs are the leash that always hunt with him by night. They
will manhandle you, too, if they once get in, and Gungadhura will take
his chance of trouble afterward. The guard dare not refuse him."

"What shall we do?" Tess wondered. "Can we hide?" Then, pulling
herself together for the sake of her race and her Western womanhood:
"If we make noise enough at the gate my husband will come. We're all right."

"If there are any gods at all," said Yasmini piously, "they will consider
our plight. I think this is a vengeance on me because I said I will leave
my maids behind. I will not leave them! Hasamurti--you and the others
make ready for the street!"

That was a simple matter. In three minutes all five women were back
in the room, veiled from head to foot. But the hammering at the front
door was repeated, louder than before. Tess wondered whether to
hope that the risaldar of the guard had already reported to Gungadhura
the lady doctor's visit, or to hope that he had not.

"We will all go down together now," Yasmini decided, and promptly
she started to lead the way alone. But Hasamurti sprang to her side,