“Yes. Some of our spies have just come in, and brought word that General Havelock is marching on Cawnpore.”
“Is that all?” exclaimed the Nana, with a laugh. “Your news is not so gloomy as I anticipated. We are powerful in troops and guns; we will wipe these saucy foreigners off the face of the earth. Await my coming below, Azi.”
Azimoolah made a slight inclination of the head, and retired towards the door.
“Azi,” the Nana called, busying himself in adjusting some costly rings that sparkled on his fat fingers. His familiar turned back. “Azimoolah, are the—dear me! There is a diamond gone out of that ring. Where can I have lost it, I wonder? Let me see, what was I going to observe? Oh—are the women and children at the Beebee-Ghur safely guarded?”
“I selected the guard myself, your Highness! so that I will vouch for its efficiency.”
“That is good. I will join you shortly, Azi. You may retire.”
CHAPTER XXVII. WITH SWIFT STRIDES NEMESIS MOVES ON.
In spite of the indifference which Nana Sahib assumed to the news brought him by Azimoolah, he felt considerable alarm. He had heard of the powers of General Havelock. He knew that he was a dauntless and war-worn soldier, who did not understand the meaning of the word “defeat!” But he derived some consolation from the knowledge he possessed that the numerical strength of the English could be but as one to twenty against his own troops.