They wondered chiefly what the
regiment would say if it knew--and whether the regiment would ever
know. Then the maid came back.
"It burns," she said. "I can see flame from the roof, though not so
much flame."
"So," said Yasmini. "Listen, sahibs."
It is doubtful if a trumpet could have summoned them away, for she
had them bound in her spells, and each in a different spell, as her
way is. She had little need to order them to listen.
"The talk in the bazaars did little harm, for the fat _bunnias_
know well whose rule has given them their pickings. They talk for the
love of words, but they trade for the love of money, and the
government protects their money. Nay, it was not the _bunnias_
who mattered.
"But there came a day when the rings of talk had reached the hills,
and hillmen came to Delhi to hear more, as they ever have come since
India was India. And it was clear then to the government that proof
of disloyalty among the native regiments would set the hillmen
screaming for a holy war-for the hills are cold, sahibs, and the
hillmen have cold hearts and are quick to take advantage, even as I
am, of others' embarrassment. Hillmen have no mercy, Colonel sahib. I
was weaned amid the hills."
It seemed to Kirby and Warrington both--for not all their wits were
stupefied--that she was sparring for time.
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