He had a wild thought of springing down, of capturing her.

She mounted the steps and disappeared among the throng.
And they wanted him to marry--to marry one of his own people.

Shere Ali suddenly saw the face of the Deputy Commissioner at Lahore calmly suggesting the arrangement, almost ordering it.

He sat down again upon the couch and once more began to laugh.

But the laughter ceased very quickly, and folding his arms upon the high end of the couch, he bowed his head upon them and was still..