"Light me a pipe, my love," said I, "and then go and hand me over the
dollars; do you hear?" You see I had her in my power--up a tree, as
the Americans say, and she very humbly lighted my pipe for me, and then
departed for the goods I spoke about.
What a thing is luck! If Loll Mahommed had not been made to take that
ride round the camp, I should infallibly have been lost.
My supper, my quarrel with the princess, and my pipe afterwards, had
occupied a couple of hours of my time. The princess returned from her
quest, and brought with her the box, containing valuables to the amount
of about three millions sterling. (I was cheated of them afterwards,
but have the box still, a plain deal one.) I was just about to take my
departure, when a tremendous knocking, shouting, and screaming was heard
at the entrance of the tent. It was Holkar himself, accompanied by
that cursed Loll Mahommed, who, after his punishment, found his master
restored to good humor, and had communicated to him his firm conviction
that I was an impostor.
"Ho, Begum," shouted he, in the ante-room (for he and his people could
not enter the women's apartments), "speak, O my daughter! is your
husband returned?"
"Speak, madam," said I, "or REMEMBER THE ROASTING."
"He is, papa," said the Begum.
Pages:
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302