No human being in Delhi ever knew the purport of the orders
which General Willoughby handed to Major Hawke, on this eventful
evening, but much marveled all Delhi that the favorite of fortune
was absent from the funeral of the late Hugh Fraser Johnstone, Esq.,
of Delhi and Calcutta. He had vanished, with no P.P.C. calls, and
a hundred-pound note tossed to the poor little Eurasian girl in
the cottage was her whole fortune in life now.
But a grave-faced civilian public official, with Major Williamson,
of the Viceroy's general staff (a late arrival from Calcutta),
ruled over the marble house in place of Major Alan Hawke "absent
upon special duty." Only Ram Lal knew of the real destination of
the lucky man, who was only free from care when he had sailed from
Bombay direct for Brindisi, on the fleet steamer Ramchunder.
"I am safe now," laughed Alan Hawke, who rejoiced in the easy tour
of duty before him. "To repair to London and to report to Captain
Anson Anstruther, A.D.C., for special duty." Such were the Viceroy's
secret orders. It was General Willoughby who had absolutely invoked
secrecy. "Wear a plain military undress, and you must avoid most
men, and all women. Keep your mouth shut and you may find your
provisional rank confirmed."
To Berthe Louison's secret agents, the Grindlay Bank at Delhi,
Major Hawke had delivered a sealed envelope. "Use this only at
your sorest need.
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