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Rh assume the role of the Begum? I heard that Prince Selim shall marry you and make you his beloved Begum. When does it come off?"

"I am always at other's command. Why am I to forego the little liberty I have? As a maid to the Begum I came out to Orissa but as the Begum of Selim I could never visit Orissa."

"What urgency can there be for the prospective Begum of the Delhi Emperor to come out to Orissa?"

"I can never boast that I am in the running for the chief Begumship of the Delhi Emperor. None but Meherunnisha alone is worthy enough to be the deserving consort to the Delhi Lord in this wide land of Hindustan."

Meherunnisha hung down her head.

"Sister, I can never persuade myself that you made the remark either to offened me or to probe my heart" added she after a brief respite "But I beg of you, when you speak, never to lose sight of the fact that I am the married wife of Sher Afgan—nay, the whole-heartedly ever faithful bond-slave to Sher Afgan."

Brazen Moti took the reproof with a good grace as it rather gave her the opportunity.

"I know it for certain that you are a devoted wife" urged Moti "and on that score I ventured to broach the subject before you under some pretext. My object is simply to let you know that Selim has not forgotten the glamour of your charms as yet. Beware."

"Now the whole thing has cleared up. But what do I care?"