these hints and allusions and innuendoes? It is time we had a little plain speaking. What is it you fear? Out with it! Are you in dread of these Hindoos? If you are, I am able, on my father's authority, to have them arrested as rogues and vagabonds.”

“No, no, that would never do,” he answered, shaking his head. “You will learn about the wretched business soon enough. Mordaunt knows where to lay his hand upon the papers bearing on the matter. You can consult him about it to-morrow.”

“But surely,” I cried, “if the peril is so imminent something may be done to avert it. If you would but tell me what you fear I should know how to act.”

“My dear friend,” he said, “there is nothing to be done, so calm yourself, and let things take their course. It has been folly on my part to shelter myself behind mere barriers of wood and stone. The fact is, that inaction was terrible to me, and I felt that to do anything, however futile, in the nature of a precaution, was better than passive resignation. My humble friend here and I have placed ourselves in a position in which, I trust, no poor fellow will ever find himself again. We can only recommend ourselves to the unfailing goodness of the Almighty, and trust that what we have endured in this world may lessen our atonement in the world to come. I must leave you now, for I have many papers to destroy and much to arrange. Good-bye!”He pushed his hand through the hole which I had made, and grasped mine
in a solemn farewell, after which he walked back to the Hall with a firm
and decided step, still followed by the crippled and sinister corporal. 

I walked back to Branksome much disturbed by this interview, and
extremely puzzled as to what course I should pursue. 

It was evident now that my sister's suspicions were correct, and that
there was some very intimate connection between the presence of the
three Orientals and the mysterious peril which hung over the towers of
Cloomber. 

It was difficult for me to associate the noble-faced Ram Singh's gentle,
refined manner and words of wisdom with any deed of violence, yet now
that I thought of it I could see that a terrible capacity for wrath lay
behind his shaggy brows and dark, piercing eyes. 

I felt that of all men whom I had ever met he was the one whose
displeasure I should least care to face. But how could two men so

 Prev. P 70/114 next