Page:Durgesa Nandini.djvu/180

 The shadow of a third person now fell on the prison wall, unmarked by those in the room. He came up and stood by them. After standing still like a statue for a while, he said in a voice faltering with passion,

"Princess! this is capital!"

Both raised their heads and saw—Osman.

Osman had learnt the particulars from his follower, the bearer of the ring; and had come in search of Aesha. On seeing Osman, the Prince became greatly apprehensive for the sake of Aesha, who might come by disgrace or reproof at the hands of Osman or of Katlu Khan himself; and that this was more than probable, the angry tone in which Osman had made the taunt, rendered clearly manifest. Aesha understood the import of the remark as soon as it was made. For a moment only her fair features grew crimson; but there was no other sign of impatience. "And what is capital, Osman, I pray?"—asked she calmly.

"It is capital," said he in the same tone of raillery, "it is capital for a Princess to be at night in the company of a prisoner. Aye; it is capital for her also to enter the prison in perfect contempt of rule."

This was more than Aesha's spotless innocence could bear. She rivetted her eyes on Osman's face, and in such haughty accents as Osman never remembered to have heard before, said,

"It is my will to enter the prison alone at this dead hour of night—it is my will to talk with the prisoner. You are not the man to sit in judgment on the correctness or otherwise of my conduct." Osman was amazed; he was still more angry.