"Tara, Light in Darkness, thou art dearer to me than life itself, and I would not lightly vex thee. What is done is done; why slay me with thy questions? I were not worthy of thee if I answered thee differently concerning the price to be demanded for the virtue of a woman; nay, do not cry, little one."
A sound of wailing came from the inner room, where two women were weeping in each other's arms. "Aho! aho!"
"Tara," exclaimed Ram Deen, starting to his feet, "who is the woman with thee? and why is she here?"
"It is I, Chandni," said a thick, muffled voice, "and thou doest me wrong, coach-wan ji. Listen!" Then the strange woman proceeded to tell Ram Deen of the slaying of Trenyon sahib, and of her own horrible mutilation.
When she had finished, Ram Deen said, "It was a brave stroke that Bijoo gave the sahib."
"It was well done, khodawund."
"And thou art not sorry for the killing of the sahib?"
"Doorga restore me and afflict me again, if I do not think it was a good killing!"
"They will hang Bijoo for it; a thousand rupees hath been offered for his taking, alive or dead."
"Aho! aho!" wailed the strange woman. "Men will be wicked for even ten rupees."