There are many old ties which bind. No, he will not go
like a thief in the night." Hawke was surprised at the old rascal's
evident emotion.
"Then tell me what you think about the disappearance of these
women," said Hawke, watching him keenly.
"I have seen all my friends in the station, even the mail clerks,
telegraph men, and all," began Ram Lal. "A train 'on government
service'--a special--came in that night from Allahabad at ten o'clock.
Then two small trains were kept in waiting for some hours; one left
for Simla before daylight, and the other drew out for Allahabad.
There was a crowd of ladies, officers' ladies, and some children
and servants in the waiting-room. They like to travel at night in
the cool shade. No one knew them. Now, at Allahabad, the east-bound
train could branch off either for Calcutta, Madras, or Bombay."
"So you know not which way these women fled?" The old merchant
seemed absolutely at sea. As Hawke shook his head the story was
soon finished.
"My men at the marble house tell me that a strange young man arrived
at ten o'clock. He was admitted by Simpson, the private man of
Johnstone Sahib. The Swiss woman talked with him alone a half hour
in the library, and then Johnstone's daughter came down there,
but only for a few moments. My men watched him writing and reading
papers in the library; then they all went away."
"That is all.
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