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The manager had just finished his supper and was on the verandah rinsing out his mouth. The place was somewhat dark. Amulya had a revolver in each pocket, one loaded with blank cartridges, the other with ball. He had a mask over his face. He flashed a bull's-eye lantern in the manager's face and fired a blank shot. The man swooned away.
I have no time." "I see!" said Sandip as his eyes flashed. "No time to waste, only for special talks!" Jealousy! Where the strong man shows weakness, there the weaker sex cannot help beating her drums of victory. So I repeated firmly: "I really have no time." Sandip went away looking black. Amulya was greatly perturbed. "Sister Rani," he pleaded, "Sandip Babu is annoyed."
I was about to summon a servant to send after Amulya, when one of the men came up with a little note, which he handed to me. It was from Amulya. "Sister," he wrote, "you invited me this afternoon, but I thought I should not wait. Let me first execute your bidding and then come for my prasad. I may be a little late."
"Amulya," said I, looking straight into his earnest, youthful face, "I fear nothing for myself, but may I never cease to fear for you." Amulya turned to go, but before he was out of sight I called him back and asked: "Have you a mother, Amulya?" "I have." "A sister?" "No, I am the only child of my mother. My father died when I was quite little." "Then go back to your mother, Amulya."
But while a whole gang of robbers seemed dancing a war-dance within the whirling brain of its Rani, the great house of the Rajas slept in peace. The gong of the watch sounded hour after hour, and the sky overhead placidly looked on. At last I sent for Amulya. "Money is wanted for the Cause," I told him. "Can you not get it out of the treasury?" "Why not?" said he, with his chest thrown out.
WITH Amulya's departure my heart sank within me. On what perilous adventure had I sent this only son of his mother? O God, why need my expiation have such pomp and circumstance? Could I not be allowed to suffer alone without inviting all this multitude to share my punishment? Oh, let not this innocent child fall victim to Your wrath. I called him back "Amulya!"
These unexpected words from my lips took Amulya by surprise. He stood stock-still for a time. Then, coming to himself, he prostrated himself at my feet in acceptance of the relationship and did me reverence. When he rose his eyes were full of tears ... O little brother mine! I am fast going to my death let me take all your sin away with me. May no taint from me ever tarnish your innocence!
"But, Sister Rani, I have now both mother and sister." "Then, Amulya, before you leave tonight, come and have your dinner here." "There won't be time for that. Let me take some food for the journey, consecrated with your touch." "What do you specially like, Amulya?" "If I had been with my mother I should have had lots of Poush cakes. Make some for me with your own hands, Sister Rani!"
Amulya then made the trembling manager, who had come to his senses, open the safe and deliver up six thousand rupees. Finally, he took one of the estate horses and galloped off a few miles, there let the animal loose, and quietly walked up here, to our place. "What made you do all this, Amulya?" I asked. "There was a grave reason, Maharaja," he replied.
I said to him: "Let your offering of reverence be that pistol!" "What do you want with it, sister?" "I will practise death." "Right, sister. Our women, also, must know how to die, to deal death!" with which Amulya handed me the pistol. The radiance of his youthful countenance seemed to tinge my life with the touch of a new dawn. I put away the pistol within my clothes.
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