The Rajputs do not drink opium with their betrayers.'
Sunni heard, and his face grew crimson.
'Maharajah!' he shouted, 'I did not tell; I did not tell.'
The Maharajah shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
'He is not of our blood; why should he have kept silence?' said the
old man.
'But he did keep silence,' said the Colonel, looking straight into
the Chitan's sunken eyes. 'I asked him about your men and your
ammunition. I commanded him, I threatened him. I give you my word
of honour as a soldier that he would say nothing.'
The English in India are always believed. A cry went up from the
other Chitans. Moti clapped his hands together, Maun Rao caught
the boy up and kissed him.
'Then,' said the Maharajah slowly, 'I love you still, Sunni, and
you shall drink the opium with the rest. Your son,' he added to
Colonel Starr, 'will bring praise to his father.'
The Colonel smiled. 'I have no children,' said he. 'I wish he
were indeed my son.'
'If he is not your son,' asked the Maharajah cunningly, 'why did
you bring him to the durbar?'
'Because he wished to come--'
'To say that I did not tell,' said Sunni.
'Call the woman,' ordered His Highness.
She was in the crowd in the courtyard, waiting to see her old
master pass again. She came in bent and shaking, with her head-
covering over her face.
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