"Go," she enjoined her attendant. "Go, Rati, and see if the Foreigners have left the court."
In a few minutes the girl returned with the information that the Foreign Sahibs had mounted their horses.
The Rani raised her arms above her head and cried aloud as she gave full vent to her suppressed emotion.
"Fools! Fools all! Of what do they think I am made. Am I clay to be moulded into any form, a pitcher with which to draw water for them when thirsty? Ah! By the great God of Gods, I swear that before another sun has set, they shall find that the will, if not the form of Lachmi Bai is fashioned out of steel."
Quickly she was surrounded by an eager throng, clamoring for news of the audience.
"What said the Foreign Sahibs, O Rani"? they besought her. "Tell us, O Queen, what said they"?
She waved them from her gently.
"It is enough," she cried, "that still hearing no sound but the call to plunder, they are deaf to the mighty whisper passed down from palace to hovel, and on from city to jungle, that the hour for India is at hand."