Leave the
room--leave me and my half-brother with this priest for five short
minutes and we will coax from him the secret of some hiding-place
where you may lie hid until I come!"
"But you'll hurt him!"
"Not if he speaks, and speaks the truth!"
"Promise me!"
"On those conditions--yes!"
"Where shall I go?"
The Risaldar's eyes glanced toward the door of the inner room, but
he hesitated. "Nay! There is the ayah!" he muttered. "Is there
no other room?"
"No, Risaldar, no other room except through that door. Besides,
I would rather stay here! I am afraid of what you may do to that
priest if I leave you alone with him!"
"Now a murrain on all women, black and white!" swore Mahommed Khan
beneath his breath. Then he turned on the priest again, and placed
one foot on his stomach.
"Speak!" he ordered. "What of Kharvani?"
"Listen, Mahommed Khan!" Ruth Bellairs laid one hand on his sleeve,
and tried to draw him back. "Your ways are not my ways! You are a
soldier and a gentleman, but please remember that you are of a different
race! I can not let my life be saved by the torture of a human being--
no, not even of a Hindu priest! Maybe it's all right and honorable
according to your ideas; but, if you did it, I would never be able
to look my husband in the face again! No, Risaldar! Let this priest
go, or leave him here--I don't care which, but don't harm him! I
am quite ready to ride with you, now, if you like.
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