It will cheer her heart, and will be a kind
action. None can ever know it."
"Give them to me," the woman said, holding out her hand. "I will do
it."
"No," Hossein replied. "I will give you one now, the other when I know
that the note is delivered. I shall be watching, tomorrow. If she
places her handkerchief in her lattice, I shall know that she has got
it. When she does this, I will bury the other bracelet, a few inches
in the ground, just under that window. You can dig it up when you
will."
"I understand," the woman said. "You can trust me. We all like the
white girl. She is very gentle, but very sad. I would gladly give her
pleasure."
Hossein handed to her the bracelet, and the quill. She hid them in her
dress, and sauntered away.
Hossein lay back, as if taking a sleep, and so remained until, half an
hour later, he heard the shouts of the drivers to the women, to take
their places in the carts. Then the sound of retreating wheels was
heard.
Hossein was about to rise, when he heard the clatter of horses' hoofs.
Looking round he saw eight elephants, each carrying a closed pavilion,
moving along the road, escorted by a troop of horsemen. In the
pavilions, as he knew, were the ladies of the rajah's zenana.
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