g embers of her houses. As you
have cried shame upon me, seeking to avenge my dead, so shall your
childless mothers and your widowed wives find shame in seeking to
avenge you, and the death of honour shall be denied them. For innocent
blood shall the doom come, though my eyes shall not behold it, and
through these two Feringhees"--she indicated Gerrard and
Charteris--"who shall execute justice on the murderer in the day when
they shall make a road for a corpse through the great wall of Agpur."

"The doom is easily averted, if only by slaying the two Feringhees and
the woman here and now," said the short man who had stood forth as Sher
Singh's champion, but this time his words did not meet with the former
ready response.

"Aye, do so," said the Rani coolly, "and bring the English down upon
you to fulfil the curse as soon as it is uttered."

She faced the ready weapons defiantly, but Sher Singh, who had been
sitting drooping upon the edge of the palanquin, apparently too weak
either to defend himself or to interfere to prevent a massacre, now
summoned strength again and interposed.

"The army has spoken truth," he said. "I am Rajah, grievous as is the
cause that brings me to the _gaddi_, and evil as shall be the fate of
the murderers of my brother. Against Jirad Sahib I bear no malice for
his doubts of me, for he has been led astray by the bitter tongue of a
woman crazed with grief. She demands vengeance; I will be her avenger,
as is fitting, since my father was her husband. In my house she will
receive due honour as his widow, and it will fare ill with any man who
speaks of shame in connection with this day. Let her Highness be
conducted back to her elephant and carried into the fort, where a
suitable reception awaits her."

"Not unless she wills it," said Gerrard firmly. "Where does your
Highness choose to dwell?" he asked of the Rani, who stood waiting
impassively.

"I have no desire to live save for vengeance, but my life would last
but an hour or two within those walls," she said calmly.

"Where would your Highness prefer to go?"

"I would fain entrust my son's ashes to Mother Ganga, and visit Kashi
in pilgrimage. That is my desire."

"It shall be done. Will your Highness permit Lieutenant Charteris to
escort you to Ranjitgarh?" He looked round for Charteris, intending to
present him, but he had slipped away a moment before. "At Ranjitgarh
the Resident will charge himself with your safety."