"But what can you expect?" he said. "They are a conquered race, and of
a different religion. I question whether, with the kindest treatment,
we should ever make them like us; but we never try."
I did not say anything, but thought that the black servants were always
ready and eager to attend to him, and I never had any difficulty in
getting things done; and often after that I used to wonder that a man
like Ny Deen should patiently put up with the brutal insult and
ill-usage he met with from Barton, who treated him like a dog, while
like a dog the Indian used to patiently bear all his abuse and blows.
"Does him good," Barton said to me one day, with an ugly grin, because
it annoyed me. "See what a good servant it makes him. You're jealous,
Vincent. You want him yourself."
"Yes," I said, "I should like to have him, and show him that all English
officers are not alike."
"Do you mean that as an insult, sir?" he cried.
"I meant it more as a reproach," I replied coolly.
"Look here, Vincent," he said hotly, "I have put up with a good deal
from you since you have been in the troop, and I don't mean to stand
much more from such a boy."
"Really, Barton--" I began.
"Stop, sir, please, and hear me out. Ever since I joined, and as far
back as I can hear of, it has been considered a feather in a man's cap
to belong to the horse artillery. Many a fine fellow has put down his
name and wanted to be transferred from the foot, and want has been his
master. But nowadays the service is going to the dogs."
"I don't want to--"
"Stop! you are going to hear me out," he cried, interposing between me
and the door. "I've long wanted to come to an understanding with you,
but you have always sneaked behind your nurse."
"I don't understand you," I said angrily; but it was not true.
"Then I'll tell you what I mean. You have always hung on the
apron-string of Mr Brace, and a nice pair there are of you. The
troop's going to ruin, and I shall tell Lacey so. I'm not going to
stand it. Here, you came out, a mere schoolboy, and before you've been
two years in the foot, you are selected to come into what used to be the
smartest troop in the Company's service. I'm not blind. It's all
grossly unfair. You've got relatives on the board, and it's all money
and interest. It's a disgrace to the service."
"Do you mean I am a disgrace to the troop?" I said hotly.
"Yes, I do," he cried savagely; "and I know well enough one of these
days how it will be. There will be some excuse made, and you will be
promoted over me; and if you are, I warn you I won't rest until the
whole miserable bit of trickery has been exposed."
"You would be clever if you did expose anything, for there is nothing
for you to expose. My uncle did write to head-quarters, I know, but I
read his letter first."
"What did it say?"
"And he only asked for my wishes to be acceded to, if I was found
worthy."
"Found worthy!" he cried, with a mocking laugh, which made my cheeks
burn. "Found worthy! It's a disgrace to the service!"
"Oh, there, I'm not going to quarrel with you," I said, fighting down my
annoyance.
"No, and I am not going to quarrel with you, but for a couple of annas
I'd give you a downright horsewhipping."
I started up from my seat, but a hand was laid upon my arm, and I was
pressed down as I swung my head round and gazed up in Brace's stern
face.
"Be quiet," he said, grimly; and then--"May I ask, Mr Barton, what this
means?"
"No, you may not," cried Barton, offensively.
"But I do ask, sir. I heard you threaten to horse-whip your junior
officer as I entered the room."
"And most creditable for an officer and a gentleman to stand at the door
listening," cried Barton, in a mocking tone. "Eavesdropping."
Brace's pale sallow face changed colour, but he spoke very calmly, for
he realised that Barton had made up his mind to quarrel with him.
"What has been the matter, Vincent?"
"Mr Barton has thought proper to accuse my friends of gross
favouritism, and he tells me that I have no business in the horse
brigade."
"Lieutenant Barton is not the judge of what officers are suitable for
our troop; and you may take it for granted that if you had not proved
yourself worthy of the selection made, you would very soon have been
transferred back."
"Don't you believe it, Vincent," cried Barton, whose face was flushed,
and whose manner indicated that he had been drinking overnight, with the
consequence that he was irritable and bitter with every one about him.
"The whole service is being neglected, or else there would very soon be
a weeding out in this troop."
Brace had been very grave and calm so far. Again and again he had
turned aside the sneers and innuendoes of Barton, who for months had
grown more and more offensive as he found that he could insult Brace
with impunity; but now he was startled by the change which came over his
brother-officer, for Brace flushed up, his eyes glittered, and in a
voice that I did not recognise as his own, he said--
"Yes, sir, and Lieutenant Barton would be removed, perhaps disgraced,
for insolence to his brother-officers, brutality to the people under
him, and conduct generally unworthy of an officer and a gentleman."
"What?" cried Barton.
"You understand my words, sir," said Brace. "You have forced me by your
treatment to turn at last, and tell you that I will submit to your
insults no longer, neither will I allow you to annoy Vincent."
"You will not allow me!"
"I will not. Do you think I am a child because I have been forbearing?
Your insolence has been beyond bounds."
"Then why did you bear it?" cried Barton.
"For the honour of the service, sir. Because I would not degrade myself
and you in the eyes of our men by descending to a quarrel."
"How brave!" cried Barton, mockingly; but Brace paid no heed, and went
on.
"Because, sir, I would not be your boon companion, and drink and
generally conduct myself in a way unworthy of an English officer in the
high position I hold in this country, I have been constantly marked out
as the butt for your offensive sarcasm, even as far back as the time
when, if you had possessed a spark of manliness or feeling, you would
have respected me and shown consideration for one who was passing
through such an ordeal as I pray Heaven you may be spared."
"Bah! A parade of your sufferings," said Barton, mockingly.
Brace winced, but he went on calmly.
"I have seen all and borne all, and even now I should not have spoken
but for your insult to Vincent, whom I heard you threaten to
horse-whip."
"Which he daren't do," I cried angrily.
"Silence!" cried Brace sternly. "You are no longer a boy, and this is
not a school."
"Indeed!" said Barton, looking me up and down with an offensive laugh.
"I thought it was."
I winced now in my turn, and then looked wonderingly at Brace, who
uttered the word--
"Contemptible!"
Barton took a step forward angrily.
"Keep your bullying looks and words, sir, for the poor Hindoos, whom you
have so disgracefully trampled down. They are wasted upon me, for I
know your nature now only too well. I am not going to quarrel, though I
have easy excuse."
"Then what will you do?" said Barton. "Fight?"
"Yes, when my duty renders it necessary, sir. As matters stand, I feel
bound to report what has taken place to Major Lacey, and to leave it in
his hands to reprimand you, and call upon you to apologise."
Barton sank back into a chair, uttering a forced laugh that made Brace
turn pale.
"`And out crept a mouse!'" cried the lieutenant. "Is that all, my
brave, fire-eating captain? Report all to Major Lacey! By Jingo, sir,
I'll spare you the trouble. I'll go and tell him what a miserable,
contemptible, beggarly coward he has in his troop, and that he is
allowing you to drag down your wretched pupil to your own level. There,
stand out of my way."
He thrust Captain Brace aside, as he strode toward the door--a thrust
that was almost a blow, and then aloud, "Here you: open that door--
quickly. Do you hear?"
I looked across sharply, and saw that a couple of the native servants
had entered the room, and felt that they must have heard every word.
They opened the door, Barton passed out, and the two white-robed men
turned to look at us wonderingly before hurrying out, and the door fell
to.
"They must have heard," I said to myself; "and they'll go and tell the
others. It will be all round the station directly that Captain Brace is
a coward." For a few moments I felt as if I dared not raise my eyes,
but it was as if something was dragging me to look up, and as I did, I
saw that Brace was looking at me fixedly, and there was something very
singular in his gaze; but for some time he did not speak, and there was
so strange a tumult in my breast that no words would come.
"Well," he said at last. "What are you thinking?"
"Of all this," I said huskily.
"And that as an officer and a gentleman I ought to have knocked Barton
down?"
"Something of the kind," I replied.
"Of course; and then, according to the code of honour among gentlemen, I
ought to fight him at daybreak to-morrow morning."