KARA THE FAITHFUL
When the Rajah of Jurma was twenty-eight years of age, he believed himself to be happy.
But when the Rajah of Jurma was twenty-nine years of age, he knew himself to be happy.
At twenty-eight, the Rajah had a noble title and a splendid fortune.
But at twenty-nine the Rajah had also—a beautiful wife.
So what more could mortal man desire?
The Rajah had been brought up by a wise father.
He had been taught self-restraint.
And he had become a virtuous man.
The Ranee had been brought up by a foolish mother.
She had been taught self-indulgence.
And she had become a vicious woman.
The Rajah was kind and considerate.
The Ranee was unkind and inconsiderate.
But the Ranee had a beautiful face.
And the Rajah had a bountiful fortune.
So when he had sought her hand in marriage, she had readily consented.
And the Rajah of Jurma deemed himself blessed.
In the morning she would walk with him.
And he would smile with satisfaction.
In the afternoon she would talk with him.
And he would laugh with happiness.
In the evening she would lie in his arms.
And he would weep with ecstasy.
He provided her with silken robes and with jeweled ornaments.
And she had a whole retinue of servants to wait upon her.
She had men to hold umbrellas over her when she went out.
She had men to sway fans above her when she stayed in.
And she had women to dress her and to undress her, and to do her bidding throughout the day and throughout the night.
These, and more, had the Ranee.
But the Rajah had—Kara.
And the Ranee was—jealous.
And something—else.
Kara was the personal attendant of the Rajah.
He was five years younger than his master.
And five times handsomer.
At least he seemed so—to the Ranee.
Kara had been in the service of the Rajah for seven years.
And he was highly thought of.
He had proved himself worthy of the confidence that had been placed in him.
He had accompanied his master into danger.
He had served him in health.
And he had nursed him in sickness.
So all this meant a great deal to the Rajah.
(The Rajah had been brought up by a wise father.)
But all this meant nothing whatever to the Ranee.
(The Ranee had been brought up by a foolish mother.)
The Rajah always saw in Kara a faithful servant.
The Ranee only saw in Kara—a handsome man....
The Rajah had been married for almost a year.
During that time he had never been separated from his wife for a single day.
But then he was summoned to the Viceregal palace, to consult with the Viceroy on matters connected with the government of the Province of Jurma.
He was to be gone for six days.
And so he was sad.
He held his wife in his arms.
She lay there limp.
He kissed her on the mouth.
She felt no thrill.
He tore himself away.
She heaved a sigh of relief.
The Rajah left the palace with tears in his eyes.
The Ranee went to her apartments with smiles on her lips.
That night the Ranee sent for Kara, the personal attendant of her husband.
“Why did you not go with your master?” said the Ranee.
“It was not the wish of my lord,” said Kara.
“And what was the wish of your lord?” said the Ranee.
“That I should remain with my lady,” said Kara.
“And what were you to do for me?” said the Ranee.
“I was to guard you,” said Kara.
“Guard me—from what?” said the Ranee.
“From—danger,” said Kara.
“The only danger that I fear is—loneliness!” said the Ranee.
The Ranee looked in Kara’s eyes.
Kara looked on the ground.
“It was at my wish that your master bade you stay,” said the Ranee.
“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.
“Did you know that?” said the Ranee.
“No, my lady,” said Kara.
“Well, what do you say now that you do know it?” said the Ranee.
“I thank you, my lady,” said Kara.
“You thank me—for what?” said the Ranee.
“For your trust, my lady,” said Kara.
“I do not call it—trust,” said the Ranee.
Kara was silent.
“I call it—esteem,” said the Ranee.
Still Kara was silent.
“I admire you,” said the Ranee.
Why did he not speak to her?
“And I—shall be—lonely!” said the Ranee.
Why did he not look at her?
“Is there anything that I can do for my lady,” said Kara.
His voice was the voice of a servant.
“No, not to-night!” said the Ranee.
Her voice was the voice of the mistress....
The next night the Ranee sent for Kara a second time.
“How long have you been with your master?” said the Ranee.
“Seven years, my lady,” said Kara.
“You have been in his personal service throughout that time?” said the Ranee.
“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.
“And you have also been in his confidence?” said the Ranee.
“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.
“Then be in mine also,” said the Ranee.
Kara looked surprised.
“And let me be in yours,” said the Ranee.
Kara looked bewildered.
“Your master has had adventures?” said the Ranee.
“Many, my lady,” said Kara.
“Adventures with men?” said the Ranee.
“Yes, my lady,” said Kara.
“And adventures with—women?” said the Ranee.
“No, my lady,” said Kara.
“Oh, he must have!” said the Ranee.
“I do not know, my lady,” said Kara.
“Try to recollect!” said the Ranee.
“I cannot, my lady,” said Kara.
“You refuse to tell me?” said the Ranee.
“I have nothing to tell, my lady,” said Kara.
“Nothing to tell—after seven years!” said the Ranee.
“My duty has been to serve him,” said Kara.
“And your duty is now to amuse me!” said the Ranee.
“I am sorry, my lady,” said Kara.
“So am I!” said the Ranee.
“Is there anything more, my lady?” said Kara.
“No—you may go!” said the Ranee....
The next night the Ranee sent for Kara a third time.
Kara stood at the door.
“Come here!” said the Ranee.
Kara came into the room.
“Here before me!” said the Ranee.
Kara approached her.
“Here beside me!” said the Ranee.
Kara hesitated.
The Ranee sprang to her feet.
She flung herself upon his breast.
She curled her arms around his neck.
She kissed him on the mouth.
“I love you!” whispered the Ranee.
He resisted her.
He repulsed her.
He pushed her away from him.
“My lady!” cried Kara. “I—”
“You—what?” said the Ranee.
“I—must—go!” said Kara.
“Why?” said the Ranee.
“I am a servant,” said Kara.
“I have forgotten that!” said the Ranee.
“But I have not!” said Kara.
“What do you mean?” said the Ranee.
“I am the servant of the Rajah—your husband!” said Kara.
“What of that?” said the Ranee.
“I serve—him!” said Kara.
“And not—me?” said the Ranee.
“I serve—him!” repeated Kara.
“You must serve me too!” said the Ranee.
“In what way, my lady?” said Kara.
“You must—love me!” said the Ranee.
“I—cannot!” said Kara.
“You—must!” said the Ranee.
“I—will not!” said Kara.
She flung her arms around him again.
And again he pushed her away from him.
“He will never know!” whispered the Ranee.
“I cannot stay!” said Kara.
“I will give you money!” said the Ranee.
“I must go!” said Kara.
“Do you know what you are doing?” said the Ranee.
“I know, my lady!” said Kara.
“And do you know what I can do?” said the Ranee.
“I know that too, my lady!” said Kara.
“Very well, then!” said the Ranee; “you need not wait! You may go! But you shall go—to the dungeon!”
He stood silent.
She hesitated.
“Do you hear?” said the Ranee.
“I hear, my lady,” said Kara.
“Which do you choose,” said the Ranee; “the dungeon, and chains, or gold, and me?”
“I am the Rajah’s servant,” said Kara, “but it is for the Ranee to put me in chains,—if she sees fit to do so!”
“And by heaven, I do see fit to do so!” said the Ranee.
She struck a gong.
A servant entered.
“Call the guard!” said the Ranee.
The servant clapped his hands.
Two guardsmen appeared.
“This man has made an attack upon me!” said the Ranee. “Put him in chains, and throw him into the dungeon—until the Rajah returns!”
The guard seized upon Kara, and led him out of the apartment of the Ranee.
And the Ranee, left to the women who came hurrying to her assistance, gave way to a fit of rage.
“The dog, the dog, the dog!” cried the Ranee.
And, in her fury, she tore her veil to shreds.
This veil was, in the East, the symbol of modesty....
Three days later, the Rajah of Jurma returned to his palace.
He went at once to the apartment of the Ranee.
And the Ranee at once informed him of the attack made upon her by Kara, his servant.
“It seems incredible!” cried the Rajah.
“But it is true!” cried the Ranee.
“What did he do?” said the Rajah.
“As soon as you went away,” said the Ranee, “in fact, the very first night you were gone, he came to me and said that you had left him to guard me, and that he meant to guard me from—loneliness! I dismissed him. The next night he came a second time, and wanted to tell me of your adventures—with women! I dismissed him again. And then the next night he came a third time, and sprang upon me, and seized me in his arms, and—”
“He must be mad!” cried the Rajah.
“Not at all!” cried the Ranee.
“Where is he now?” said the Rajah.
“He is in the dungeon!” said the Ranee.
“What shall we do with him?” said the Rajah.
“He must be punished!” said the Ranee.
“Of course!” said the Rajah.
“He should be whipped!” said the Ranee.
“Very well,” said the Rajah.
“And at once!” said the Ranee.
“Without delay!” said the Rajah.
“Have him brought here!” said the Ranee.
The Rajah gave the order to a servant and in a short time Kara was brought into the room, loaded with chains, and guarded by six men.
Kara stood before the Rajah and the Ranee.
His face was wan.
His hair was wild.
But his eyes—
His eyes were like the eyes of a faithful dog that has tried to lick the hand of its master, and has been rewarded with a kick.
Kara did not look at the Ranee.
He only looked at the Rajah.
“Kara, what thing is this that I hear—” began the Rajah.
“Let him be whipped!” said the Ranee.
“Kara, what demon possessed you that you should—” began the Rajah.
“Let him be whipped!” cried the Ranee.
“Kara—after all these years—” began the Rajah.
“Shall I or shall I not be avenged?” cried the Ranee.
“Let him be whipped!” said the Rajah.
A strong man stepped forward.
He bore a thick whip.
And he lashed Kara across the back, again, and again, and again.
Kara stood there, and never made a move, and never uttered a sound.
“You are not hurting him!” cried the Ranee. “You are not trying to hurt him! He does not feel it! Give me the whip! Let me punish him.”
The Ranee sprang up from her couch, and seizing the whip from the hands of the servant, herself began to brutally lash the body of the unfortunate Kara.
The flesh was ripped and torn.
The blood streamed down his limbs.
But still he made no move.
And still he made no sound.
The Ranee stopped.
She turned to the Rajah.
“Here, you must whip him!” cried the Ranee. “It does not hurt him coming from me! But it may hurt him coming from you!”
“But I—” began the Rajah.
“I must be avenged!” cried the Ranee, “and you must avenge me!”
The Rajah took the bloodstained whip from the hands of the Ranee.
He raised it aloft.
But Kara fell to the ground before the blow was struck.
He had fainted.