There was great joy in the house of Hawke.
But when Simpson entered his master's room he was followed by a
wild-eyed returning emissary, who waited till the old soldier had
left the room. Hugh Johnstone suddenly lost all interest in the
breakfast tray, the letters and his morning toilet, when the Hindu
fearfully said: "They are all gone--the Mem-Sahib, the two foreign
devils, and all their belongings!"
Johnstone was on his feet with a single bound. "Gone! What do you
tell me, you fool?" He was shaking the slim-boned native as if he
were a man of straw.
"They went to the railroad at two o'clock at night, the coachman
told me. We only began our watch by your orders at daybreak. She
had been then gone four hours." Johnstone foamed in an impotent
rage.
"Who is left in the house?" he roared.
"Nobody, Sahib." tersely said the Hindu.
"Get out and send me Simpson!" the old man sternly said. "Go back
and watch that house till I have you relieved. Tell me everyone
who goes in or out!"
And then the horrible fear that Willoughby or Abercromby had
deceived him, began to dawn upon his excited mind. "Simpson," he
cried, "there's a good fellow! Take the first trap and get over
to Major Hawke. Tell him that I must see him here, at once, on the
most important business. He must come. Then get to Ram Lal, and
bring him yourself to your own room. Let me know, privately, when
he is there.
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