Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/200

 The horsemen knew the King's officer and the slave girl too, and preferred a parley to an open attack.

"You will answer for this night's work," said one of the horsemen to Noren. "You will answer to one who never forgives."

"I will answer to the great Emperor, whose bidding I perform, for chastising midnight robbers who waylay a royal messenger and maim a royal horse."

"Fine work for a royal messenger to steal a palace slave! Knowest thou not, Norendra Nath, that he who steals a slave from the palace dies the death? Go thy way, messenger, there is time yet to recede, and with thee we have no business. Leave the slave of Jodh Bai to justice; it is her we demand; it is her we have been bidden to pursue and arrest."

"Was it Queen Jodh Bai, then, who desired this brave girl to be poniarded in the palace on a dark night, or was the deed that of your master, the black Musroor, who seeks now for her life-blood? Infamous slaves of the infamous eunuch, I will save this woman from his dark revenge with my sword, as I would save all God's creatures from undeserved death!"

"We know naught of the night's scuffle in which wounds were given and received. We demand Jelekha in the name of justice for running away from the palace, and we ask you, a King's officer, to render her back to us."

"Show me the King's warrant by which you make the demand. Show me the royal order by which you maimed a King's horse and waylaid a King's messenger! I recognise no other mandate. I despise those of your black master."