So it was Kumran's turn to grow pale.
"August lady," he replied, evading her question, "this is a matter of policy with which women have naught to do.

King Humayon hath taken Kandahar, he hath imprisoned and degraded his brother Askurry, and for this, I, Kumran, challenge him!" "And wherefore ?" asked Dearest-Lady boldly.

"Did not Askurry deserve it?
Nay! did he not deserve death?
Did he not steal the King-of-Empire?
Did he not defy the king?
Did he not send the Heir-to-Empire away, instead of returning him to his father's keeping?
I tell you, nephew Kumran, that your father, Babar the Brave, Babar the Kindly, Babar the Generous, Babar the Just, whom all men loved for his mercy, would have given _death_ for such faults--and given it rightly.

And will you, like a fool, court death also ?" She looked round the assembly to see many a sullen, suspicious face, and understood that danger lay close at hand.
So her resolution was taken in a moment.

"See you!" she went on, "nothing has been done yet to make forgiveness impossible.