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Malati was not a servant of Debendra's, not even a dependent, but yet a follower; the services that others refused to perform, he obtained from her. At sight of this woman the cunning Hira said: "Sister Ganga jal! may I meet you at my last moment; but why have you come now?" Malati whispered, "Debendra Babu wants you." Hira, with a laugh: "Are you not to get anything?"
One or two such marriages had been arranged, the widows being of low caste; but the credit of these was due, not to him, but to the contracting parties. He had been of one mind with Tara Charan about breaking the chains of the zenana; both had said, "Let women come out." In this matter Debendra was very successful, but then this emancipation had in his mind a special meaning.
After consulting with the jury for a few minutes, the judge informed Nalini that his client was acquitted, and Debendra Babu left the Court, as the newspapers say, "without a stain on his character". Seeing Rám Harak standing near the door with folded hands, he clasped the good old man to his bosom, with many protestations of gratitude, and begged him to forgive the injustice with which he had been treated.
They reluctantly agreed to do so, and assembled at Sadhu's cottage; but at the last moment all of them refused to touch the corpse. Nalini was puzzled by their behaviour. He asked for an explanation, whereon the Mohammadans whispered together and nudged a grey-beard, who became their spokesman. "Mahásay," he said, "the fact is Siráji lived with Debendra Babu and was actually made enceinte by him.
Debendra and Nagendra were sprung from the same family, but between the two branches there had been feud for successive generations, so that the members of the Debipur family were not on speaking terms with those of Govindpur. From generation to generation there had been lawsuits between the two houses.
Whom do you suspect of sending the anonymous letter?" Hiramani bit her lips; she knew the author, who was none other than herself, and replied: "It might have been written by Jadu Babu; but I suspect his brother Nalini, who is as venomous as a snake and hates you mortally". Debendra Babu stamped his foot in annoyance and, after musing awhile, asked, "What would you advise me to do?"
"That is too much," was the wily astrologer's reply. "Mention a reasonable sum, and I will see what can be done." "Well, I will take Rs. 75, and not a pice less; and understand, if the money is not paid before this evening, I will send Debendra Babu up for trial." "Very good; I will call on him at once and frighten him into paying up; but I must have something for myself."
After thinking out the maximum amount he could decently demand, the astrologer said: "About one hundred rupees." "Oh, that's far too much," was the reply. "Do you want to ruin me? Can't you do it for less?" "Not a pice less. "Will you guarantee definite results for Rs. 100?" asked Debendra Babu anxiously.
Beginning thus, Hira briefly related the terrible history. She mentioned no name, neither that of Debendra nor that of Kunda. She said nothing from which it could be inferred whom she had loved, or who was beloved by him. At length, after speaking of the abuse she had received, she said "Now what do you suppose I did?" "What did you do?" "I went to a Kabiraj.
Tara Charan took home his beautiful wife; but in marrying a beautiful wife he brought himself into a difficulty. The reader will remember that Tara Charan had delivered some essays in the house of Debendra Babu on the subjects of women's education and the opening of the zenana.
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