I had,
therefore, already made up my mind. Abdullah Khan, however,
thinking that I hesitated, pressed the matter more closely.
"'Consider, Sahib,' said he, 'that if this man is taken by the
commandant he will be hung or shot, and his jewels taken by the
government, so that no man will be a rupee the better for them.
Now, since we do the taking of him, why should we not do the rest
as well? The jewels will be as well with us as in the Company's
coffers. There will be enough to make every one of us rich men
and great chiefs. No one can know about the matter, for here we
are cut off from all men. What could be better for the purpose?
Say again, then, Sahib, whether you are with us, or if we must
look upon you as an enemy.'
"'I am with you heart and soul,' said I.
"'It is well,' he answered, handing me back my firelock. 'You
see that we trust you, for your word, like ours, is not to be
broken. We have now only to wait for my brother and the
merchant.'
"'Does your brother know, then, of what you will do?' I asked.
"'The plan is his. He has devised it. We will go to the gate
and share the watch with Mahomet Singh.'
"The rain was still falling steadily, for it was just the
beginning of the wet season.
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