word to any one of how I escaped," Dhairya-Sila said, and his wife
promised that she never would.

11. When the vizier got this promise, what did he forget which could
betray how he got down from the tower, if any one went to look at it?

12. Do you think there was any need for the vizier to tell his wife
to keep his secret?


CHAPTER VII


All this time the Raja was feeling very unhappy, for he thought he
had himself caused the death of the one man he could trust. He was too
proud to let anybody know that he missed Dhairya-Sila, and was longing
to send for him from the tower before it was too late. What then was
his relief and surprise when a message was brought to him that the
vizier was at the door of the palace and begged for an interview.

"Bring him in at once," cried Surya Pratap. And the next moment
Dhairya-Sila stood before his master, his hands folded on his breast
and his head bent in token of his submission. The attendants looked
on, eager to know how he had got down from the tower, some of them
anything but glad to see him back. The Raja took care not to show
how delighted he was to see him, and pretending to be angry, he said:

"How dare you come into my presence, and which of my subjects has
ventured to help you to escape the death on the tower you so richly
deserved?"