“How knowest thou that?”
“I was there, bearing her box of jewels.”
“Didst thou see her buy the tikkut?”
“Nay, I bought it, for she ordered me.”
“For what destination was the tikkut?”
“Peshawur!” said Ismail, filling his mouth with the word as if he loved it.
“Yet”--it was King who spoke now, pointing an accusing finger at him--“a burra sahib sends a tar to me--this is it!--to say she is in Delhi still! Who told thee to answer those questions with those words?”
“She!” the big man answered.
“Yasmini?”
“Aye! May Allah cover her with blessings!”
“Ah!” said King. “You have my leave to depart out of earshot.”
Then he turned on Rewa Gunga.
“Whatever the truth of all this,” he said quietly, “I suppose it means she has done what there was to do in Delhi?”
“Sahib,--trust her! Does a tigress hunt where no watercourses are, and where no game goes to drink? She follows the sambur!”
“You are positive she has started for the North?”
“Sahib, when she speaks it is best to believe! She told me she will go. Therefore I am ready to lead King sahib up the Khyber to her!”
“Are you certain you can find her?”
“Aye, sahib,--in the dark!”
“There's a train leaves for the North to-night,” said King.
The Rangar nodded.
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