It seemed an hour before the Risaldar came out
again, and then he took her by surprise.
"Heavenborn!" he said. She looked up with a start, to find him standing
close beside her.
"Mahommed Khan! You're panting! What ails you?"
"The heat, heavenborn--and I am old."
His left hand was on his saber-hilt, thrusting it toward her respectfully;
she noticed that it trembled.
"Have I the heavenborn's leave to lock the ayah in that inner room?"
"Why, Risaldar?"
"The fiend had this in her possession!" He showed her a thin-bladed
dagger with an ivory handle; his own hand shook as he held it out
to her, and she saw that there were beads of perspiration on his wrist.
"She would have killed thee!"
"Oh, nonsense! Why, she wouldn't dare!"
"She confessed before she--she confessed! Have I the heavenborn's leave?"
"If you wish it."
"And to keep the key?"
"I suppose so, if you think it wise."
He strode to the inner door and locked it and hid the key in an inside
pocket of his tunic.
"And now, heavenborn," he said, "I crave your leave to bring my half-
brother to the presence!"
He scarcely waited for an answer, but walked to the window, leaned
out of it and whistled.
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