"I was joking." Ruelgazed at his brother curiously. "You've been affianced to her since shewas a lass of sixteen. You're saying you're still faithful to her after allthese years of waiting?"
"Of course."
"There's no 'of course'about it. I'm not sure you weren't destined for the priesthood." Hesmiled. "And a priest would stick out at Zabrie's like the proverbial sorethumb. Stay here and wait for me."
"You are not welcomehere." Zabrie scowled at Jane across the room. "You have brought metoo much trouble."
"I've also given you asubstantial amount of rupees to lighten those troubles."
"True." Zabrie'sscowl vanished as she turned back to look at herself in the mirror of hervanity. "And it pleases me to make things difficult for His Highness. Isuppose you may sit down while I prepare myself for the evening."
Jane sat down on thesatin-cushioned divan. "Has Abdar been back since he searched thehouse?"
Zabrie shook her head. "Itold him you came only to make yourself available to my clients." Shesmiled slyly. "I said it was the only way you could enjoy yourself withoutexposing yourself to shame. Was that not clever of me?"
"Very clever." Janecame across the room and seated herself in the chair beside the table. "Wemust talk."
"Li Sung?" Zabriestraightened warily. "He has complained?"
"No, on the contrary, hevisits you too often."
"Because I am very, verygood." Zabrie smiled complacently as she dipped her brush into the pot ofkohl on the vanity. "After all, is that not why you came to me?"
"Tell him you can't seehim so often. It's dangerous for him to come here now."
"Very well." Shecarefully drew a line around her left eye. "The fee will be the same,however."
Jane nodded. "I didn'texpect anything else, but make up a good excuse. I won't have him hurt."
Zabrie drew a line around theother eye. "He thinks he is a fine lover. He wouldn't believe anything elsenow." She looked up with a satisfied smile. "I have done well withhim. Is that all?"
Jane shook her head."Kartauk."
Zabrie's smile faded."It's too dangerous."
"You said Pachtal and HisHighness hadn't been back."
"That does not mean I amnot watched." Zabrie painted her lips vermilion. "You will have tothink of another way of getting him out of Kasanpore. I will not risk bringingHis Highness's anger down on my head."
"I thought you enjoyedthe thought of foiling Abdar."
"On a small scale. But hegains more power every day and it will soon be too dangerous to displease HisHighness."
"It's not a dangerif—"
"I beg pardon tointerrupt." The same doe-eyed young girl who had brought Jane to Zabrie'schamber stood in the doorway. "But there is a man here, Zabrie. Yousaid—"
"I'm busy, Lenar. Givehim another woman."
"But you told me to tellyou when he came back."
Zabrie turned quickly to lookat the girl. "It's the Scot?"
The girl nodded. "He sayshe's in the mood for something different. He wants a white woman... "
"Oh, does he?" Atiny smile touched Zabrie's lips. "I believe I might have to change hismind." She nodded to a door across the dressing room. "Take him tothe chamber next door and get him settled. Tell him I'll be with him in a fewmoments." As the girl left the room she turned to Jane. "You'll haveto leave. I have a customer."
"I'm also a customer. Lethim wait."
