He twisted it
carelessly round his neck, and blew out the chirag. Then he
slipped softly into the passage, and from that into the close,
dark, high-walled corridors that led into the outer courts. He
stepped quickly, but carefully; the corridors were full of sleeping
servants. Twice he passed a sentinel. The first was stupid with
opium, and did not notice him. Mar Singh, the second, was very
wide awake.
'Where go you, Sunni-ji?' he asked, inquisitively.
'I go to speak with Tooni about a matter which troubles me so that
I cannot sleep,' answered Sunni; 'and afterwards I return to the
little south balcony that overlooks the river; it will be cooler
there if the wind blows.'
As Sunni went on, the thoughts of the sentinel became immediately
fixed upon the necessity of being awake when the sahib's son should
pass in again--the sahib's son had the ear of the Maharajah.
The ayah's hut was in the very farthest corner of the courtyard she
had begged for, somewhat apart from the others. It was quite dark
inside when Sunni pushed open the door, but the old woman,
slumbering light, started up from her charpoy with a little cry.
'Choop!' said he in a low, quick tone; and Tooni, recognising his
voice, was instantly silent.
Sunni made his way to the side of the bed, and took one of her
hands.
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