master and reported, "Just now Kariman has bought poison from Hakim Mirza Habib."
Mahammad Taki caught hold of Kariman immediately. She made a confession of the whole thing and said that she had already handed over the poison to Dalani Begum. Thereupon, Mahammad Taki came to Dalani in all haste, and he found that the Begum was seated on the floor, with folded hands and up-turned eyes—an incessant and unbroken stream of tears from her beautiful expanded eyes was drenching her cloth—an empty cup was lying before her—Dalani had taken the poison!
Mahammad Taki anxiously enquired, "What was in that cup?"
"Poison," replied Dalani. "I am not a traitor like you—I always take delight in obeying my master's command. It is now your duty to take what is still left in the cup and follow me."
Mahammad Taki did not say a word—he remained standing, quite motionless. Slowly and gradually Dalani laid herself down on the floor. She closed her eyes—everything became dark—Dalani left this cruel world for ever!
262
