" He rang a
silver bell, and, whispering to Simpson, faced his young visitor,
who had bowed in acceptance. The butler returned in a few moments
with a superb Indian saber, sheathed in gold, and shimmering with
splendid jewels. He stood, mute, as Johnstone gravely said: "I
learned from Simpson, on my return from Calcutta, of your prompt
gallantry in aiding my daughter in her hour of peril." He continued,
"Simpson alone, was left to tell me, as I have sent the child away
to the hills for a couple of months. For reasons of my own, I do
not care to have a motherless girl exposed to the indiscriminate
hubbub of merely official society. The young lady will probably
not remain in India. I therefore sent them all away before this
official visit, which would have forced a child, almost yet a
school girl, out into the glare of this local junketing," he said
with feeling.
"Take this saber, Major. It was given up by Mir-zah Shah, a Warrior
Prince, in old days, so the legend goes. It is the sword of a king's
son. It will recall your own saber play so neatly conceived, and,
as a personal reminder, wear this for me! It is a rare diamond, which
I have treasured for many years. And its old Hindustanee name was
'Bringer of Prosperity.'" Hardwicke bowed, and murmured his thanks.
The nabob slipped a superb ring from his finger, and then, as if
he had relieved his mind forever of a painful duty, dismissed the
subject, almost feverishly entertaining his solitary guest at the
splendid feast which had been prepared for General Abercromby.
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