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Rh gruffly, without further interruption to the smoking and the obscene dialogue.

"Your employer then?" asked Madhav again.

"We have no employer," said the sardar in the same tone, and went on pulling at the kalika.

"He who bade you do this deed?" said Madhav.

"No one bade us," said the sardar.

"No one? Have you seized and confined me for play?"

"Not for play," retorted the sardar. "We have seized and confined you for money." The cool and collected demeanour of Madhav Ghose and the imperious tone of his language had mortified the ruffianly pride of the bandit, who piqued himself upon being the scourge and humiliator of the rich and the great, and he was resolved to be as mortifying in his answers.

"And who gives you this money?" enquired Madhav.

"Guess," said the sardar.

"I need not."

A deep and hollow sound interrupted the speaker and his auditors.

"What's that?" ejaculated Bhiku in amazement.

"What's that?" ejaculated the sardar in his turn.

All three remained silent for a few moments.

"Can there be another in the room? That would be a fine affair indeed," said the sardar. "Let me see."