“Prince,” said Iravati, in answer to this declaration, “I implore you to grant me a favour, although it may sound uncourteous. Leave me for the present. After all that has passed, I feel that it is necessary to be alone. A prince, a nobleman as you are, will not refuse me this.”
“I should be,” replied Salim, “unworthy of the name, if for a moment longer I misused your goodness; also I feel but too well that further persistence is now not only useless but prejudicial to my cause, therefore I obey your request.” And turning, he left the gallery with slow footsteps.
No sooner was he gone than Iravati’s courage and firmness forsook her, and, worn out, she sank on a seat near, and covering her face with her hands, wept bitterly.
Her repose was but of short duration, the sound of approaching footsteps made her look up in alarm, and she saw Salhana before her.
“My daughter,” he said, in a gentler tone than she ever remembered to have heard from him, “I know what occupies your thoughts and bows your head with sorrow. I have long known what you to-day have heard. I discovered some time ago Siddha’s faithlessness in Agra, but concealed it until the time should come when it would be necessary that you should know it. Now all is known to you, and I trust that you will recognise that the respect you owe, not to yourself alone, but to me and my house, should oblige you to banish all thought of the man who in so shameful a manner has flung from him the alliance with our race. No, listen to me,” he continued, as Iravati was about to reply. “Believe that I feel the deepest sympathy with you in this fatal moment; still I must not neglect to remind you what a daughter of our noble race owes to her honour and good name. At the same time, I will tell you, though in confidence, what I have discovered, which, though it cannot heal the wound you have received at once, will in the end bring consolation. A splendid future awaits you, Iravati; that which every woman in the whole of Hindustan would look upon as the most enviable lot can be yours—Prince Salim. I suspected it some time ago, and when I gave him the opportunity, he acknowledged all to me. Prince Salim loves you, and asks you for his wife.”
“I know that,” said Iravati.
“You know it! and how?”
“From the Prince himself, this very day.”
“And your answer?”
“I refused his flattering offer.”