“She swore she did not, and I wouldn’t think she’d tell me a direct lie.”
“May have been bribed to turn her back for a moment,” suggested Brian.
“More likely her attention was attracted by something going on outside,” said Eveleen promptly. “Her bump of curiosity’s enormous, don’t you know.”
“What do you make of this, Delany?” asked Richard hoarsely. “Is it some such plot on Kamal-ud-din’s part as you hinted at just now?”
“To reunite the Belle and the Bauble, d’ye mean? I wouldn’t think that—unless they’d imagine my sister was to be cot like a bird by spreading a trail of crumbs in front of her. No, if y’ask me, I’d say ’twas some bright scheme on the part of those Khans of mine, that have the heart worried out of me with their crooked ways. Every man of ’em is laden with stones like these. I know because they’re so anxious to make me presents of ’em. But now they know if I accept anything ’twill only go to the Prize Agents, they’re knocking off a bit. Possibly, now they have proved my Roman virtue, they are trying elsewhere.”
“But what’s the notion?”
“I ask y’, indeed! Just for a sort of propitiation, maybe, to the man in charge of ’em. But then again, they may have some plan in hand, and ’twould help ’em if I went about with my eyes shut. Or it may be they want a good word said for ’em to the General. You know these fellows. Can any of us say what’s in their minds?”
“You think they are plotting to escape?”
“I don’t know, I tell you. The way they keep my mind on the stretch, wondering what are they after now, you’d pity me if you knew! They can’t want more indulgences or luxuries, for they’ve got ’em all. It makes me angry to go from the General in his wretched little rowty, that barely keeps the sun off his old head, to those chaps with their great cool rooms and fountains and green stuff. It can’t be more servants they want, for they couldn’t get ’em in. The place is packed with big strapping fellows, that go backwards and forwards to the Fort, and can carry news, or treasure, or anything they like but arms—and I wouldn’t put it past ’em to smuggle them too now and then. At least, there’ll be no more treasure to be had now, for the Prize Agents have taken it over—three million pounds they talk about.”
“And you’d grudge your poor sister one little handful of spoilt stones!” said Eveleen tragically.