FIVE LAKHS OF RUPEES
At noon Prince Tchajawadse departed northwards accompanied by his page Georgi and his Indian servant.Heideck had observed great reserve during the short time he had known the beautiful Circassian, and had never betrayed that he had guessed the secret of her disguise.She seemed to be grateful, for although they never had exchanged words, she smiled at him and gave him very friendly glances at their chance meetings.There could be no doubt concerning the relation of the beautiful page and his master.
Heideck may have felt some jealousy--he hardly ever had seen a more charming girl than this Circassian beauty in her picturesque dress;but all his thoughts were with Edith.The Russian was indeed a lucky fellow to have found such a charming travelling companion.
She never forgot her assumed part of the page, when strangers were near, and yet it was clear to Heideck that she in truth was master.
A single glance of her flashing eyes was sufficient to keep the Prince in order, when under the influence of intoxicants he would have otherwise given way to his brutal instincts.In her presence he never dared to use ambiguous and frivolous language.
With sincere regret Heideck saw the Prince depart.He did not share the hope, which the latter expressed to him, that they would meet again.But he remembered him as one of his most interesting acquaintances and a very charming comrade notwithstanding those little foibles he had noticed.
.......
It struck seven o'clock when Heideck in full evening dress entered the Colonel's drawing-room.He felt a wave of keen joy surging through him when he noticed that it was empty, except for Edith Irwin.The horrible events she had passed through had left her a little pale.To him she seemed more beautiful than ever.She met him with a smile and gave him her hand, which he kissed with great emotion.
"Mrs.Baird and the Colonel beg to be excused for a quarter of an hour," said she."The Colonel has still much to do with the preparations for the mobilisation.Mrs.Baird is suffering from one of her bad attacks of headache and has had to lie down for a short time."Heideck's face told Edith clearly enough that he gladly forgave his host and hostess this little impoliteness.After having taken a chair opposite hers, he began--"I hope most sincerely, Mrs.Irwin, that you have had no annoyance on account of my late call.All day long yesterday this was on my mind."With a sad smile she replied, "No, no.On the contrary, my husband has asked me to tell you that he is very sorry not to be able to thank you personally for your heroic behaviour.He hopes to be able to do so later on.He has been ordered to go to Lahore in great haste and for an indefinite period.There was not time for him to see you, in order to thank you."Heideck imagined that he knew what this order meant.But he only asked: "And are you going to stay on here under the protection of the Colonel?""Nothing definite has been arranged as yet.Nobody knows what may happen to-morrow.It is certain that extraordinary events are in preparation.In case of war, we poor women have to do as we are told, you know.""And the Maharajah? You have not heard about him?""Colonel Baird saw the Prince officially yesterday; but I do not know anything more; I had not the courage to ask.It seems to me quite certain that the Maharajah is hostilely disposed towards the Colonel.The event which happened here to-day is, I think, immediately to be connected with the Maharajah.I know the ways of these Indian despots!""May I venture to ask what has happened?""An attempt to poison the Colonel at his own table.""To poison the Colonel?" asked Heideck surprised.
"Yes.Colonel Baird's habit is to drink a tumbler of ice-water before each meal.To-day, at tiffin, the Indian butler gave it him as usual.The water appeared to him rather cloudy.He did not drink it at once, and after a few minutes he noticed distinctly a white sediment at the bottom of the tumbler.When he called for the Indian butler, the man had disappeared, and has not been found yet.That increased our suspicion that an attempt at poisoning had been made.A small quantity of the fluid had been put into a dish which contained the food for the dogs.It was then placed into a rat-trap which contained five or six of these ravenous beasts.Ten minutes later they were dead.The remains of the water have been given to Doctor Hopkins.He is going to make a chemical analysis, and to tell us about it at dinner-time."Before Heideck could find the time again to resume the discussion of Edith's personal affairs, Mrs.Baird came in, accompanied by the Colonel and his adjutant.They all shook hands with him in the most charming way, and after Doctor Hopkins had also arrived, a small man with a very vivacious manner, they went in to dinner.
Perhaps the Colonel would have preferred that nothing should be said in Heideck's presence about the poisoning attempt.His wife's impatience and excitement, however, could not he restrained.
"Well, Doctor Hopkins," she asked, "and what have you found?"The Doctor evidently had been waiting for this.
"One of the most deadly poisons the Indians know," he answered.
"The diamond powder.There is no antidote for it, and it is impossible to trace it in the body of the poisoned person, because it is of vegetable nature, and gets absorbed in the tissues."A cry of horror escaped Mrs.Baird.She covered her eyes with her hand.
