Page:Krishnakanta's Will (Chatterjee, Roy).pdf/15

264 been wandering, boy? But I don't mind telling over again."

When he had finished speaking, Gobindalal said, "What do you intend to do with her, uncle? You are not going to hand her over to the police, of course?"

"Police!" said Krishnakanta. "What have I to do with the police? I am the police, I am the magistrate, I am the judge. What I will do is this. I will see her head shaven in the presence of all my men, and then have her sent out of my jurisdiction."

"Rohini," said Gobindalal, turning to her, "where did you get the forged will?"

"I found it in the drawer," said Rohini.

"Mark her rascality!" said Krishnakanta.

"Who put it there? You know of course, else what business had you to meddle with the drawer?"

"She won't tell you that," said Krishnakanta. "But I can see perfectly well what is really the matter. It is as clear as noon-day. The forged will was of Haralal's preparing. She was bribed by him to steal my will and put the false will in its place. But as she couldn't do that, being found out, she burned up the forged will. That's the fact I tell you, though she won't confess to it."

"Rohini," said Gobindalal, "you have heard what your punishment will be. But if you will tell the truth without mincing any part of it, I will try and obtain pardon for you."

"I will not sue for pardon if the punishment is deserved by me," said Rohini.

"How defiant!" cried Krishnakanta.

"Will you let me alone with her, uncle, say for an hour?" asked Gobindalal.

"What for?" said his uncle.

"I want to get the truth out of her," said he. "Maybe she has her reasons for not wishing to tell it here."

"Well, I have no objection," said his uncle. "You may take her to your room and see if you can get the whole truth out of her."

Krishnakanta ordered a servant-maid to take Rohini to Gobindalal's wife and keep guard over her.

When Gobindalal had gone, "Bad boy!" said Krishnakanta to himself. "I am greatly mistaken if he has not taken a fancy to that girl."

A little after Rohini had left, Gobindalal walked into the inner parts of the house, ascended the stairs and entered his bedroom. His wife was there. She was seated at a little distance from Rohini, and was silent. She had wished to speak a word of comfort to her, but she abstained lest it might move her so as to make her burst into tears. As her husband entered she walked up and winked to him as a hint that she wished to have a word with him. He stepped out with her, and she took him aside and said, "What is Rohini here for? What's your business with her?"

"I have something to ask her in private," said Gobindalal.

"Why in private? What is it you wish to ask her?" said his wife.

"You are jealous, my dear," he said with a smile, giving her a quick glance. "There is no fear of my falling in love with Rohini."

The words uttered pointblank struck her with sudden shame. She left him abruptly, and, running downstairs, strolled into the kitchen.

"Tell me a story," she said to the female cook who was busied in preparing the meal, as she gave her in fun a pull by the hair. "I want an amusing story, one that will make me laugh, for I feel rather dull. You can tell it cooking."

"Why, my lady, a nice good time it is for story-telling," she said. "But at night when I have leisure I will tell you a story that will make your sides split with laughter."

Meanwhile Gobindalal seated himself at a little distance before Rohini and said, "Now, girl, I hope you will tell me the honest truth and not try to keep anything back."

Rohini wanted to make a clean breast of everything to Gobindalal.

"Uncle says," continued he, "you stole into his room to secure his will and put a forged will in its place. Is it true?"

"No," said Rohini.

"What is true then?"

"It is useless to tell it, I fear," she said after a pause.

"Why?" asked Gobindalal.

"Because... you will not believe my words."

"How do you know that?" said