Nay, I will go with you." Umballa found an empty chamber; the future queen was gone.

More, he found one of the women of the zenana--his favorite--bound and gagged with handkerchiefs.

Quickly he freed her.
"Highness, the bride's face was dark like my own, but her arms were as light as clotted cream! And she spake the tongue of the white people." Kathlyn Hare! She lived; she had escaped the brigands; she had fooled him! And Ramabai had played with him as a cat plays with a wounded mouse.

Oh, they should see this time! Suddenly he laughed.

It echoed down the corridor, and one of the treasury leopards roared back at the sinister sound.
"Highness!" timidly.
"Enough! I hold you blameless." He rushed from the palace.
Poor fools! Let them believe that they had escaped.