I appreciate your manliness in keeping out of my little
misunderstanding with the Madame. By the way, a few words from
Abercromby to the Viceroy would put you back on the Army Staff,
where you rightly belong. Let bygones be bygones, and you can make
your play on the General, It's the one chance of a life. Come and
see me. J."
"There! He will never show that!" mused Hugh Johnstone. "It touches
his one little raw spot!" And calling a boy the old Commissioner
dispatched the note, carefully sealed, to the Club. The last one
to seek his rest in the marble house, old Johnstone was strangely
shaken by the events of the day.
Berthe Louison's threats, Ram Lal's stubborn refusal, and the useless
quarrel with Hawke had unmanned him. He drank a strong glass of
grog and then sought his room. "All things settle themselves at
last! This thing will blow over! I wish to God that she was out of
the way! I could then handle the rest!" For in his heart he feared
the defiant woman.
There were two men equally surprised when gunfire brought the
"day's doings" on again in lazy, luxurious Delhi. Over his morning
coffee, Major Alan Hawke thankfully cried: "I am a very devil for
luck! This old skinflint is opening his bosom and handing me a
knife. By God! I'll have my pound of flesh!" He leaped from his
couch as blithe as a midshipman receiving his first love letter
from a fullgrown dame.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283