It is time
now for proofs and deeds. The hour of talk is gone. Bring me a
soldier!"
"These also say it is all talk, sahib--words, words, words! They say
they will wait until the fleet that has been spoken of comes to
bombard the coast. For the present there are none to rally round."
"Yet you hinted at soldiers!" said the German. "You hinted at a
regiment ready to revolt!"
"Aye, sahib! I have repeated what _these_ say. When the soldier
comes there shall be other talk! See yonder smoke, _bahadur?_"
Now, then, it was time to notice things, and the German gazed over
the garden and Delhi walls and roofs at what looked very much more
important than it really was. It looked as if at least a street must
be on fire.
"He made that holocaust, did the soldier!"
Yasmini's manner was of blended awe and admiration.
"He was suspected of disloyalty. He entered that house to make
arrangements for the mutiny of a whole regiment of Sikhs, who are not
willing to be sent to fight across the sea. He was followed to the
house, and so, since he would not be taken, he burned all the houses.
Such, a man is he who comes presently. Did the sahib hear the mob
roar when the flames burst out at evening? No? A pity! There were
many soldiers in the mob, and many thousand discontented people!"
She went close to the window, to be between the German and the
light, and let him see her silhouetted in an attitude of hope
awakening.
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