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 messenger left Murshidabad with Mahammad Taki's letter to the Nawab, every hair of Dalani's body suddenly stood up on its end, and the stalwart man, by her side, spoke out for the first time. Be it for his voice or the gloom of a fore-shadowed evil or something altogether different, Dalani all on a sudden shuddered at that evil moment.

The stalwart man said, "I know you—you are Dalani Begum."

Dalani got startled.

The man said, "I know too that you have been thrown into this lonely region by a wicked profligate."

Tears again came out from Dalani's eyes, in torrents. The stranger enquired, "Where do you mean to go now?"

Dalani was frightened at the sight of the stalwart figure of her present companion in solitude, but his words dispelled all fear from her mind—she found sufficient reason not to be afraid of him. But nevertheless, she did not reply to the query and began to weep, as before. The man repeated his question, and then Dalani said,

"Where shall I go? I have no place in this world to resort to. I have only one place of