"The white queen of Allaha, whom mine own eyes saw crowned at the
durbar there!" he murmured. "By the shroud of the prophet what can
this mean? Stop!" he called to the soldiers. Kathlyn looked up dully.
"Convey her to his highness the Kumor!" The prince should decide what
should be done with her.
The Kumor was big and lazy and sensual. He gazed upon Kathlyn with
eyes which sparkled evilly, like a cat's.
"Who is this woman?" he demanded.
"Highness, she is the white queen of Allaha, but who may say that she
is here?" with a smile as evil as his master's.
"But how came she here?"
The horseman briefly recounted the events as he had seen them in the
capital of Allaha.
"Who are you, maiden?" the Kumor asked in English, for, like all
potentates, little or great, in India, he spoke English. It presented
the delectable pastime of conspiring in two languages; for, from Bombay
to Calcutta, from Peshawar to Madras, India seethes, conspires and
takes an occasional pot shot at some poor devil of a commissioner whose
only desire is to have them combine religion and sanitation.
"I am an American. Please take me to the English commissioner."
Somehow instinct told her that she might not expect succor from this
man with the pearls about his gross neck.
"I regret that his excellency the commissioner has gone to Bombay.
Besides, I do not know that you tell the truth. Still, I can offer you
what pearls and emeralds you may find to your liking."
"Your Highness, there are those whose coming shortly will cause you
much annoyance if you refuse to give me proper aid. There is no
possible way for you to cover up my appearance here. Send me to the
commissioner's bungalow, where I may await the coming of my friends."
"Indeed!" The Kumor saw here a conflict not altogether to his liking.
He was lazy, and there was the damnable, unrelenting hand of the
British Raj looming in the distance. He shrugged. "Achmet, call the
captain of the guard and have him convey this runaway queen to Allaha.
Surely, I may not meddle with the affairs of a friendly state." With a
wave of his fat bejeweled hand he appeared to dismiss the matter from
his mind.
Kathlyn was led away. The human mind can stand only so many shocks.
Outside the palace courtyard stood Rajah, the howdah securely attached
once more, Kathlyn was bidden to mount. A water bottle and some cakes
were placed in the howdah beside her. Then a drunken mahout mounted
behind Rajah's ears. The elephant did not like the feel of the man's
legs, and he began to sway ominously. Nevertheless, he permitted the
mahout to direct him to one of the city gates, the soldiers trooping
alongside.