After a little, when I had recovered myself and taken my hands from my face, I saw Sandip back at the table, gathering up the sovereigns in his handkerchief, as if nothing had happened. Amulya rose to his seat, from his place near my feet, his wet eyes shining.
Sandip coolly looked up at my face as he remarked: 'It is six thousand.'
'What do we want with so much, Sandip Babu?' cried Amulya. 'Three thousand five hundred is all we need for our work.'
'Our wants are not for this one place only,' Sandip replied. 'We shall want all we can get.'
'That may be,' said Amulya. 'But in future I undertake to get you all you want. Out of this, Sandip Babu, please return the extra two thousand five hundred to the Maharani.'
Sandip glanced enquiringly at me.
'No, no,' I exclaimed. 'I shall never touch that money again. Do with it as you will.'
'Can man ever give as woman can?' said Sandip, looking towards Amulya.
'They are goddesses!' agreed Amulya with enthusiasm.
'We men can at best give of our power,' continued Sandip. 'But women give themselves. Out of their own life they give birth, out of their own life they give sustenance. Such gifts are the only true gifts.' Then turning to me, 'Queen!' said he, 'if what you have given us had been only money I
