Chapter Thirty Five

Jagatsingh stooped down and looked: Tilottama lay motionless. He began to fan her with his own garment; yet seeing no sign of consciousness in her, he called to the guard.

Tilottama's escort came to him. Jagatsingh said: "She has suddenly fallen insensible. Who has come with her? Bid them come and attend to her."

The guard said: "I alone came with her." The Prince exclaimed in surprise: "Thou alone?"

The guard said: "None other has come."

"Then what is to be done? Send word to one of the household maids."

The guard turned to go. The Prince called him back and said: "Hark — if we send word to any other there will be confusion. And on this night who will leave their revelling to come and help her?"

The guard said: "That is true. And who among the guards would let any other persons enter the prison? I dare not bring strangers here."

The Prince said: "Then what are we to do? There is but one way — go quickly and send word by a maidservant to the Nawab's daughter, and inform her of what has happened."

The guard went off swiftly upon that errand. The Prince did what he could for Tilottama's sake. What thoughts passed through his mind at that moment, who shall say? Whether tears came to his eyes or no, who shall say?

The Prince was left alone in the prison, greatly distressed on Tilottama's account. If word could not reach Ayesha, if Ayesha could find no remedy, what then would become of her?

Tilottama little by little began to recover her senses. At that very moment Jagatsingh looked out through the open doorway and saw that the guard was returning, with two women beside him, one of whom wore a veil. Even from a distance, at the sight of the veiled figure's tall and graceful form, her musical step, and the lovely bend of her neck, the Prince knew that Ayesha herself was coming with her maidservant — and it seemed as though hope itself came walking at her side.

When Ayesha and the maid arrived at the prison gate with the guard, the warder asked the ring-bearer: "Must I let these women pass also?"

The ring-bearer said: "Thou knowest; I know nothing." The warder said: "Very well" — and forbade the women to enter. Hearing this prohibition, Ayesha drew back her veil from her face and said: "Guard! Let me enter; if any harm come to thee for it, lay the fault on me."

The guard did not know Ayesha. But the maid whispered a word of introduction. The guard was struck with awe, bowed in salutation, and with folded hands said: "Pardon the offence of this poor man — there is no prohibition against your going wheresoever you please."

Ayesha entered the prison. At that moment she was not smiling, yet her countenance was naturally bright with a smile — it seemed as though she smiled. The prison itself was transformed; no one could have believed it a prison any longer.

Ayesha saluted the Prince and said: "Prince! What is this I hear?"

What could the Prince answer? Without replying he pointed with his finger to Tilottama, who lay upon the floor.

Ayesha looked at her and asked: "Who is she?"

The Prince replied, with some constraint: "Birendrasingh's daughter."

Ayesha took Tilottama in her own arms and sat with her cradled there. Another might have hesitated, might have considered the matter on this side and that; Ayesha gathered her up without a moment's thought.

Whatever Ayesha did appeared beautiful; she had the gift of doing all things with beauty and grace. When she sat with Tilottama in her arms, both Jagatsingh and the maidservant thought within themselves: "How lovely!"

Ayesha had brought by the maid's hands rose-sherbet and other restoratives; these she administered to Tilottama, and sprinkled some upon her face. The maid fanned her. Tilottama had already been returning to her senses; now, under Ayesha's ministrations, she recovered consciousness entirely.

The moment she looked about her she remembered all that had passed; and at once Tilottama made to rise and quit the cell. But the bodily and mental exertions of that night had worn her slight frame to exhaustion, and she could not go; scarcely had the memory returned than her head swam again, and she sank back where she sat. Ayesha took her hand and said: "Sister! Why dost thou distress thyself? Thou art very weak at this moment — come, rest in my apartments, and when thou art ready I will send thee wherever thou wishest to go."

Tilottama made no answer.

Ayesha had already heard from the guard as much as he knew, and therefore, suspecting some doubt in Tilottama's mind, she said: "Why dost thou distrust me? I am indeed the daughter of thine enemy; yet do not therefore deem me faithless. Nothing that passes this night shall be disclosed by me. Before the night is out, I will send thee by my own maid wherever thou wouldst go. No one shall breathe a word."

These words Ayesha spoke with such sweet earnestness that Tilottama could harbour not the least distrust of her. Moreover, she could no longer walk of herself, nor could she remain sitting beside Jagatsingh; therefore she consented. Ayesha said: "Thou canst not walk unaided. Lay thy hand upon this maid's shoulder and lean upon her as thou goest."

Tilottama placed her hand on the maid's shoulder and, thus supported, moved slowly forward. Ayesha also took her leave of the Prince; the Prince looked steadily at her face, as though he would say something. Ayesha, reading his meaning, said to the maid: "Take her to my bedchamber and seat her there, then return and fetch me."

The maid went away with Tilottama.

Jagatsingh said within himself: "This is the meeting and the parting vouchsafed to thee and to me." He breathed a long and heavy sigh, and was silent. As long as Tilottama was visible through the doorway, so long he gazed after her.

Tilottama too was thinking: "This is the meeting and the parting granted to me." As long as she was in his sight she did not look back. When at last she turned — Jagatsingh was no longer to be seen.

The ring-bearer came up to Tilottama and said: "Then I take my leave?"

Tilottama gave no answer. The maid said: "Yes." The guard said: "Then be pleased to return the token-ring that is with you."

Tilottama took the ring and handed it to the guard. The guard departed.