The Dewan sent for Ajeet and explained to him, as if it were a very
great honour, that Nana Sahib, having heard of Bootea's wonderful
grace, had asked her to appear at a _nautch_ he was giving to the
Sahibs and Hindu princes at his palace. No doubt Bootea would receive
a handsome present for this, also it would incline the heart of the
Prince to the Bagrees.
Ajeet was suspicious, but to refuse permission he knew would anger the
Dewan; and he was in the Minister's hands. His position was none too
secure; there was treachery in his own camp. He asked for a day to
consult Bootea over the matter; in reality he wanted to consider it
more fully before giving an answer.
Of course Hunsa knew about it, and he told Sookdee; and when the matter
came up in camp they professed indignation at Ajeet's stupidity in not
appreciating the honour; dancers were only too glad to appear before
such people as the Prince and the Resident at a palace dance, they
explained.
Of course the matter of Bootea's mission to the Pindari Chief had not
been conveyed to Ajeet as yet; and Hunsa felt that this affair of the
_nautch_ was a propitious thing--an inserting of the thin edge of the
wedge.
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