that
he might curl on his mat and sleep undisturbed when it had gone, should
dare to approach Jaimihr and address him. He would run no small risk
of being beaten by the guards; but, on the other hand, should he catch
jaimihr's ear and interest him, he would be safe.

"Wouldst thou win Jaimihr's favor?" asked Joanna, creeping up beside
him, and whispering with all the suggestiveness she could assume.

"Who would not? Who knows that within week he will not be ruler?"

"True. I have a message for him. I must hurry back. Deliver it for me."

"What would be the nature of the message?"

"This. His prisoner is gone. A raid has taken place. In his absence,
while his men patrolled the city, certain Rangars broke into his
palace--looted--and prepared to burn. Bid him hurry back with all the
men he can collect."

"From whom is this message?"

"From the captain of the guard."

"And I am to deliver it? Thou dodderest! Mother of a murrain, have I not
trouble sufficient for one man? Who bears bad news to a prince, or to
any but his enemy? I--with these two eyes--I saw what happened to the
men who bore bad news to Howrah once. I--with this broom of mine--I
helped clean up the mess. Deliver thine own message!"

"Nay. Afterward I will say this--to the Jaimihr-sahib in person. There
is one, I will tell him, a sweeper in the palace, who refused to bear
tidings when the need was great."

"If his palace is burned and his wealth all ashes, who cares what
Jaimihr hears?"

"There is no glow yet in the sky," said Joanna looking up. "The palace
is not yet in flames; they loot still."

"What if it be not true?"

"Will Jaimihr not be glad?"

"Glad to see me, the bearer of false news, impaled--or crushed beneath
an elephant--ay--glad, indeed."

"The reward, were the Jaimihr-sahib warned in time, would be a great
one."

"Then, why waitest thou not to have word with him. Art thou above
rewards?"

"Have no fear! He will know in good time who it was brought thee the
news."

They argued for ten minutes, Joanna threatening and coaxing and
promising rewards, until at last the man consented. It was the thought,
thoroughly encouraged by Joanna, that the penalty for not speaking would
be greater than the beating he might get for bearing evil news that
at last convinced him; and it was not until she had won him over and
assured herself that he would not fail that it dawned on Joanna just
what an edged tool she was playing with. While