"May the memsahib never lack plenty from which to give!" he said,
for there is no word for "Thank you" in all India.
"I will bless the memsahib at each mouthful!" said Sita Ram.
"Truly a bellyful of blessings!" laughed Yasmini.
Then they all went to the stair-head and watched and listened
through the open door while a closed carriage was driven away in a
great hurry. Three maids and six men came up-stairs one after
another, at intervals, to report the road all clear; the first
carriage had not been followed, and there was nobody watching;
another carriage waited. Babu Sita Ram was sent downstairs to get
into the waiting carriage and stay there on the lookout.
"Now bring him better clothes!" said Ranjoor Singh.
But Yasmini had anticipated that order.
"They are in the carriage, on the seat," she said.
So the German went down-stairs and climbed in beside the babu,
changing his turban at once for the better one that he found waiting
in there.
"This performance is worth a rajah's ransom!" grumbled babu Sita
Ram. "Will sahib not put elbow in my belly, seeing same is highly
sensitive?"
But the German laughed at him.
"Love is rare, non-contagious sickness!" asserted Sita Ram with
conviction.
At the head of the stairs Ranjoor Singh and Yasmini stood looking
into each other's eyes.
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