A great shouting followed.

The populace surged.
"What have you said to them ?" she demanded.
"That her majesty had chosen Durga Ram to be her consort and to him now forthwith she will be wed." He salaamed.
So the mask was off! "Marry you?
Oh, no! Mate with you, a black ?" "Black ?" he cried, as if a whiplash had struck him across the face.
"Yes, black of skin and black of heart.

I have submitted to the farce of this durbar, but that is as far as my patience will go.

God will guard me." "God ?" mockingly.
"Yes, my God and the God of my fathers!" To the mutable faces below she looked the Queen at that instant.

They saw the attitude, but could not interpret it.
"So be it.