She let her eyes rest upon him with a keen inquiry there was no evading. Much as he disliked the close catechising he was obliged to reply.
"We have every reason to believe that he has thrown himself down the well."
"Why should he be tempted to do such a thing?"
"He was angry and offended because we gave him the punishment ordered by the swami. It was light and less than he deserved——"
"I have heard another story. Where is his wife?"
"She is here in the house."
"I don't see her in the kitchen, where, as my daughter-in-law, she should be superintending the women."
"Since she has become a widow she leads a retired life as is only fitting," explained Sooba, with increasing uneasiness.
"A widow! then the body of my son has been found!"
Sooba shifted from one foot to the other as he answered.