ill. He spoke to her kindly,
but it was evident that he had transferred his affections to his
grandson, whom he looked upon as his successor. Reginald did his best
to make amends to her for the change in their grandfather's manner; but
she seemed rather pleased than otherwise, having had no ambition to
occupy the exalted position to which she had been destined. Perhaps she
reflected that it might remove all objections the rajah would have
entertained with regard to bestowing her hand on her brother's friend.

Soon after she had retired, the slave Bikoo, for whom Reginald had sent,
was brought, heavily chained, into the presence of the rajah, who at
once promised him his life on condition that he would afford all the
information he possessed regarding the proceedings of his late master
Balkishen.

"You have described him certainly as a great villain," observed the
rajah, when the slave had apparently finished his account; "but is there
nothing else you can add? I was already aware of most of the
circumstances you have told me."

"I will confess to another crime, if I may be pardoned for taking part
in it; for consider, O Rajah! In your benignity, that I am but a slave,
and my master compelled me to act the part I did," answered Bikoo,
trembling all over.

"You have my promise, wretched slave, that no punishment shall overtake
you on account of anything you may confess," said the rajah. "Say on,
slave."

Bikoo, recovering himself, continued--

"I managed to steal into your highness's treasury, from whence I carried
off a casket full of papers, of which my master desired to possess
himself."

"What has become of them?" asked Reginald eagerly.

"Remember that if you speak not the truth you will immediately be put to
death," added the rajah.

"O Refuge of the World, far be it from me to deceive you," answered the
slave. "The casket was placed by my master, with other treasures,
within the tomb of the learned saint Danee Domanuck, in the temple of
the great god Doorga, before which the pious priests of our faith, at
morn, noonday, and eventide, are wont to stand reciting the prayers and
the wise sayings he composed; but so absorbed are they in their
devotions that they will not discover who enters the temple, and the
casket may without difficulty be recovered. If my pardon is granted, I
will undertake to carry it off from the spot in which I before placed
it."

"Pardon or no pardon, the casket must be b