“Give that, that,” said the Hindu bibi, “and keep the black thing which you have in your hand.”
Alicia, thoroughly disgusted at the woman’s mean covetousness, shook her head and rose from the charpai on which she had been seated.
“Give the charm back!” cried Darobti, becoming suddenly aware that whilst she was quarrelling with Jai Dé the cause of the dispute might be carried away.
“Give the charm back!” echoed more than one voice.
Alicia grasped the locket more tightly. It was the property of her cousin, not theirs; she would never give it up except to its rightful owner. A cry for help from above burst from the Englishwoman’s heart as she made one step forward.
Strong brown hands were laid on the lady’s arm; she had no strength to cast them off—helpless as a dove in the claws of the falcon.
“Give the bracelet!” cried Chand Kor.
With a quick, sudden movement, Alicia drew off the jewel, and flung it from her in the direction farthest from the door by which she had entered. It was a bait, and it took. Every one made a rush in that direction. Alicia was free—released from the grasping hands which had held her as in a vice. She took advantage of the moment, and rushed to the door which opened on the stair without stopping to say salám. She would have forgotten to snatch up her umbrella had she not intuitively seized on it as a weapon of defence. Alicia rushed so hurriedly down the stair that she nearly fell in her haste. She could hear the bibis above quarrelling over the jewel which she had flung away, which all coveted, but only one could possess. As Alicia, panting with excitement and heat, sped first across the inner then the outer court-yard, she thrust her prize—black locket and dirty rag—within the body of her bridal dress above her heart, she was so much afraid that in her haste she should drop that which had cost her so dear.
Alicia’s troubles were not ended even when with a sense of relief she passed through the second door and found herself outside the fort. There was her little doli indeed in the place where she had left it, but to her utter dismay Alicia could see neither Robin nor the kahars. Where could they be? In vain the lady called aloud, in vain she gazed from side to side; no one replied, and no one appeared.
“What on earth shall I do!” exclaimed the poor girl. “I cannot possibly return home with no one to carry me.”