Amulya sank on a chair with his face in his hands.
I went up to him and placing my hand on his head
asked him: “What is your trouble, Amulya?”
He stood straight up as he replied: “I
had set my heart, Sister Rani, on returning your jewels
to you with my own hand. Sandip Babu knew this,
but he forestalled me.”
“What do I care for my jewels?” I said.
“Let them go. No harm is done.
“Go? Where?” asked the mystified
boy.
“The jewels are mine,” said Sandip.
“Insignia bestowed on me by my Queen!”
“No, no, no,” broke out Amulya wildly.
“Never, Sister Rani! I brought them back
for you. You shall not give them away to anybody
else.”
“I accept your gift, my little brother,”
said I. “But let him, who hankers after
them, satisfy his greed.”
Amulya glared at Sandip like a beast of prey, as he
growled: “Look here, Sandip Babu, you know
that even hanging has no terrors for me. If
you dare take away that box of jewels ...”
With an attempt at a sarcastic laugh Sandip said:
“You also ought to know by this time, Amulya,
that I am not the man to be afraid of you.”
“Queen Bee,” he went on, turning to me,
“I did not come here today to take these jewels,
I came to give them to you. You would have done
wrong to take my gift at Amulya’s hands.
In order to prevent it, I had first to make them
clearly mine. Now these my jewels are my gift
to you. Here they are! Patch up any understanding
with this boy you like. I must go. You
have been at your special talks all these days together,
leaving me out of them. If special happenings
now come to pass, don’t blame me.
“Amulya,” he continued, “I have
sent on your trunks and things to your lodgings.
Don’t you be keeping any belongings of yours
in my room any longer.” With this parting
shot, Sandip flung out of the room.
“I have had no peace of mind, Amulya,”
I said to him, “ever since I sent you off to
sell my jewels.”
“Why, Sister Rani?”
“I was afraid lest you should get into trouble
with them, lest they should suspect you for a thief.
I would rather go without that six thousand.
You must now do another thing for me—go
home at once, home to your mother.”
Amulya produced a small bundle and said: “But,
sister, I have got the six thousand.”
“Where from?”
“I tried hard to get gold,” he went on,
without replying to my question, “but could
not. So I had to bring it in notes.”
“Tell me truly, Amulya, swear by me, where did
you get this money?”
“That I will not tell you.”
Everything seemed to grow dark before my eyes.
“What terrible thing have you done, Amulya?”
I cried. “Is it then ...”
“I know you will say I got this money wrongly.
Very well, I admit it. But I have paid the
full price for my wrong-doing. So now the money
is mine.”
