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132 Although the whole room was visible with the distinctness that the faint light would permit from the place where they sat, the sardar nevertheless got up and scrutinized every corner, but of course with little success.

"It is strange," he observed as he resumed his place, "but let it go. You were speaking of my employer, sir; who do you think he is?"

The presuming tone of the question highly irritated Madhav Ghose, but suppressing his resentment he briefly answered, "I know he is Mathur Ghose; now tell me what are your instructions."

Bhiku gaped in surprise, and leering towards the sardar, observed, "How is it that he knows it already?"

"Fool!" said the sardar "do you gape at this, who else in Radhaganj has an iron-walled dungeon to cage his prisoners in?"

But he returned no answer to Madhav's question, true to his determination of humbling the yet lofty pride of his captive and perhaps to mould him to that state of mind which would facilitate his object. But Bhiku was getting impudent, and warmed by the fumes of the ganja, his usual taciturnity was fast giving place to an uncontrollable propensity to chatter.

"In truth," said he, "what are we to do with our booty: booty of flesh and blood I mean?"

"Eat him up, I suppose," said the sardar.

Bhiku broke out into a hoarse laugh at this sally of his chief. But his rude laugh was