female voices."

"The villainous traitors have deprived me, then, of my child," exclaimed
the rajah. "Come, my friend, we must ascertain the worst," he said,
addressing Reginald. "You must not waste any more time on this man: if
it is his fate to live, he will live; if not, he will have the
satisfaction of dying in my cause."

Reginald, although as anxious as the rajah to ascertain what had
happened, was unwilling to leave the brave sepoy, who was still in much
need of aid; but the rajah's impatience would brook no delay, so telling
the poor man that he would return as soon as possible, Reginald followed
the rajah, who was hurrying from the room.

They made their way towards the women's apartments, observing on either
side signs of the fearful struggle which had taken place, though it was
still evident that the rajah's own guard had remained faithful. The
doors of the women's apartments were open--those sacred chambers into
which, hitherto, no man had dared to enter. Female ornaments and
dresses were strewn on the ground, articles of all sorts were broken,
and the marks of violence were visible even on the walls. The worst
anticipations of the rajah were realised: Nuna had undoubtedly been
carried off by the rebels. Reginald had difficulty in quieting the old
man's agitation. He seemed incapable of deciding what course to pursue.
Reginald himself felt deeply grieved at the loss of the young girl,
whose possession, he foresaw, would add greatly to the power of the
rebels, as, even should they be ultimately defeated, it would enable
them to treat on favourable terms with the rajah; and he endeavoured in
vain to tranquillise the mind of the old man, by reminding him that it
would be to the interest of Mukund Bhim to behave courteously to her.

As it would be dangerous to remain long in the palace, to which the
rebels might at any moment return, Reginald endeavoured to persuade the
rajah to go back to the merchant's house, where he might remain till the
arrival of their friends, should the mendicant have succeeded in
reaching them, and should they be able to enter the city. No other
course seemed practicable, unless, abandoning all effort to recover his
power, the rajah should resume his disguise and attempt to make his
escape from the city. Reginald suggested this course, and offered to
protect him with his life; the rajah, however, would not hear of it.

Darkness had now set in, and, wrapped in his mantle, th