‘Ay, and Ameena; thou hast been a dupe, Khan Sahib, as many another. Ha! ha!’
‘Do not laugh,’ said the miserable Khan, ‘do not laugh—it is mockery to laugh; how didst thou hear this? tell me—I am calm, I can listen.’
‘No matter how; wilt thou abide the proof? I will accompany thee at the hour.’
‘Whither?’
‘To the Patél’s house; darest thou come?’
‘Now! now!’ shouted the Khan in frenzy, ‘let me have immediate proof.’
‘No, no! there has been no harm done yet—there may not be any meant. Wilt thou come with me at night?’
‘I will.’
‘Till then be calm. I may be wrong—I pray Alla I may be, for I honour the Patél; if we are wrong, we will say it is a visit; dost thou agree?’
The Khan was stupefied. ‘What didst thou say?’ he asked, ‘I did not hear thee.’