Shaibalini, and made her get into the Nawab's palanquin without any hesitation.
A eunuch attendant brought Shaibalini within the castle and ushered her into the Royal presence, in the Seraglio. The Nawab found to his surprise that she was not Dalani—he also noticed that even Dalani was not so striking a beauty as the fair stranger before him. In fact, he felt that in his harem there was no lady who wore so captivating a beauty! The Nawab asked,
"Who are you, fair lady?"
Shaibalini. I am a Brahmin's daughter.
Nawab. Why have you come here?
Shaibalini. The Royal attendants have brought me here.
Nawab. They have done so, mistaking you for the Begum. Why has not the Begum come?
Shaibalini. She is not there.
Nawab. Then, where is she gone?
When Golston and Johnson were leaving Pratap's house, with Dalani and Kulsam, Shaibalini had seen them. She did not know who the women were, and took them to be either maid-servants or dancing girls. But when the Nawab's men told her that the Begum was in Pratap's house and
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