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 of her powerful intellect, her face was again restored to cheerfulness.

"I must" thought she, "secure my end through this very fellow! Hush!" said she, "soft, come with me."

Saying this, she took Rahim's hand, and dragged him out. The man followed nothing loth.

"O fie!" said Bimala, when they were alone, "is this your deed? Where did you go, leaving me? There's not a place which I have not searched for you." Again the same loving side-glance! The ire of the magnanimous Shaikh was quenched.

"I searched for the general," said he, "to give him information of Jagat Singha. Failing to find him, I came back to the roof, but missed you. I have since been looking for you in every direction."

"Seeing your delay," said Bimala, "I concluded you had forgotten me; and have accordingly come in search of you. But now what's the use of delaying any longer? Your people have captured the castle; and it is time we got ready for our flight."

"Not to-night," answered Rahim, "to-morrow morning. How shall I go without telling it to the general? Next morning, I will take his leave and go."

"Let us go then," returned Bimala, "and at once secure my ornaments and that sort of thing,—or else some other soldiers may steal them."

"Very well," replied the soldier. The object of Bimala in taking Rahim with her was simply to escape the hands of other soldiers; and a circumstance which happened soon after, bore