My
senses were preternaturally at work. The marble column against which I
was leaning with seeming carelessness, vibrated under my hand. Within
its circular depths I could see Abdul descending stealthily and slowly,
his one free arm pressing a silken bundle to his breast. Even to my
nostrils there was wafted the fragrance of attar of roses, and with the
exhalations of perfume came a gentle sigh of timidity almost at my very
ear.
"I was moistening my parched lips with my tongue, when I awoke from my
momentary trance. The zemindar's eyes were blazing down at me.
"'Villain, this ring is yours!' he cried, struggling to his feet.
"'Not mine, my lord,' I protested, flinging myself at full length before
him.
"But at that very moment there rang forth the sharp tattoo of a horse's
hoofs on the paved courtyard without, followed by the sharp challenge of
a sentry, the bang of a matchlock, and then a very babel of excited
yelling.
"Every one in the audience hall swept outside, even the zemindar, his
dignity all forgotten. Left alone, with swift consciousness of the
suspicion that had fastened itself upon me, and of my powerlessness to
deny connivance with the escape of my friend, I gathered myself up and
fled by a side passage to a ghat on the river.
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