The face opposite his paled. "Wherefore?" she asked briefly.
"Because she may be the undoing of empire," he replied. "Hearken, so thou mayest understand."
"Siyah Yamin," she echoed in a puzzled voice when he had told her of the Syed's appeal and the certainty that the courtesan would swear to having read the Kalma and thus prove the legality of her marriage. "Nay! she cannot swear!"
"Not if a bowstring find her throat first," retorted Birbal viciously; "naught else will stop a woman's tongue, especially if marriage be the subject. Therefore she must be found and--and--lost again! She is in the city; that we know. Where, no one can compass. If thou couldst find out----"
"There is no need," said Âtma slowly; "she--she will not swear!"
Birbal was on his feet with a laugh. "A woman will swear anything for one she loves or hates, and Siyah Yamin hates the King. Whether she love Jamâl-ud-din is another matter. So fare thee well, Âtma Devi championess of Kings. Lo! I have given thee thy Châran chance. As for the rebeck player--I shall find him yet!"
After Birbal left, Âtma sate thinking. There was something which she remembered about Siyâla, which little Siyâla, the darling of the Gods, must remember also.
Or would she pretend to forget it? If she did, then she, Âtma, must speak, must protest, if needs be die to witness to it.
Then, if she died it would be death to Siyah Yamin who was Siyâla, sister of the veil.
Âtma roused herself and stood listening. A faint sound of slumbering breath drawn evenly met her ear as she paused at the door of the slip of a room where Zarîfa lay hidden. The child was asleep and could be left for an hour or two at any rate.