A DARK SCHEMER
"The highest honour I know of," calmly replied Gokul Das, "is to be reckoned a faithful servant of the Debipur House as my fathers have been."
"I know that, my faithful friend, and shall never forget it. But, tell me what thou thinkest of Raja Man Singh."
"The Emperor Akbar has not an abler General than Raja Man Singh, but the Raja is more than that. He is as deep in counsel as he is able in war."
"And what follows?"
"It follows that he will wrest Orissa from the Afghans yet."
"But he has made peace, leaving Orissa to the Afghans."
"Yes, to make his preparations."
"And will he, a Rajput, break his word?"
"There will be no need. The insolent Afghans will give him cause."
"From what source, my friend, dost thou learn that?"
"From the latest despatch from our secret agent in Raja Man Singh's Court. I waited for a suitable time to report its contents to my Master."
Gokul Das rose and turned the lock of a secret door in the room which was coloured like the wall, and seemed a part of the wall. The door turned, and disclosed a huge iron safe worked into the brickwork of the wall. He opened the safe, brought out a packet, and laid it before Nobo Kumar.
Nobo Kumar read the paper slowly and attentively in the dim light of the oil lamp, and then laid it down.
"Why, this is serious news," he said. "The
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