"What is it?" he asked.
"Where is your uncle's will—take care of it—they mean to carry it off."
"Humph" ejaculated Madhav, a sudden light flashing upon him as he called to mind his aunt's lawsuit, "They shall not have it."
"Do you not keep it in an ivory box in this room?"
"Yes—how do you know it?" he enquired in fresh amazement.
"Why I? they know it,"—she replied.
"Now I see it!" he answered, "you must be too well informed," and he rose to depart.
"I have something to beg of you—will you grant it?"
"Ask it and it will be yours."
"Then say not a word to a human being that I have been your informant or even that I have been here to-night; my life depends on it."
"How your life ? Who dares threaten it?" exclaimed he with a flash of indignation.
"Hush!" said she.
"Yes, I forget!" said he checking himself, "I promise you silence."
"And impose the same on Karuna and my sister as you go."
"With Karuna, it will be rather difficult, but I shall frighten the wench into dumbness. You stop with your sister, with closed doors and you will remain here unperceived by the household. When I come back I shall lead you to a place of greater security and privacy."
So saying he passed by his wife and Karuna,
