“Yes,” said Mr Braine, with his brow full of lines. “I may be wrong—we may be wrong. We have dreaded something of the kind might happen, but years have gone on, and we have had no occasion to think anything serious till now.”
“You startle me. What do you mean?” said Murray, excitedly.
“Well, you see the rajah is a Mussulman.”
“Yes, of course. Allah, Mahomet, and so on.”
“He has several wives.”
“Yes, whom he keeps shut up like birds in a cage. Well, what of that?”
“Last night we were all very much disturbed. It was before you came in.”
“Ah! Yes, I noticed you were all very quiet. Why was it?”
“The rajah had sent Amy a present. It was a magnificent specimen of goldsmith’s work—a large bangle of great value.”
“Well?”