"Tell the maharajah sahib that I come in person to welcome him!" she
retorted, and the gateman hurried back into the dark toward his post.

There were no lights at the outer gate. One could only guess how the
stage was set--the maharajah hooded lest some enemy recognize him--
the eunuchs behind him with cords concealed under their loose outer
garments--and the guard at a respectful distance standing at attention.
There was not a maharajah's sepoy in Sialpore who would have dared
remonstrate with Gungadhura in dark or daylight.

Only as they passed under the yellow light shed by the solitary lantern
on the iron bracket did Tess get an inkling of Yasmini's plan. Light glinted
on the wrought hilt of a long Italian dagger, and her smile was cold-
uncompromising--shuddersome.

Tess objected instantly. "Didn't you promise you'd kill nobody? If we'd
a pistol we could fire it in the air and my husband would come in a minute."

"How do we know that Gungadhura hasn't killed your husband, or shut
him up somewhere?" Yasmini answered, and Tess had an attack of
cold chills that rendered her speechless for a moment. She threw it
off with a prodigious effort.

"But I've no weapon of any kind, and you can't kill Gungadhura, three
eunuchs and the guard as well!" she argued presently.

"Wait and see what I will do!" was the only answer. "Gungadhura caused
my pistols to be stolen. But the darkness is our friend, and I think the
gods--if there are any gods--are going to assist us."