REGINALD RAJAH OF ALLAHAPOOR--ARRIVAL OF CAPTAIN HAWKESFORD--VISIT TO
BUXSOO'S FAMILY--THE CAPTAIN TAKEN BY SURPRISE--A BANQUET--REGINALD
ESCORTS NUNA TO THE RESIDENCY--MEETING OF NUNA AND VIOLET.
The late rajah had been carried to the tomb of his ancestors in state,
and Reginald had been duly installed as his successor amid the
acclamations of the people. But remembering the warning he had
received, he was very far from enjoying his new position. Willingly
would he have left the country, and the Oriental magnificence in which
he lived, had he not felt that it was his duty to remain and endeavour
to ameliorate the condition of his subjects.
Nuna had been much grieved at the loss of her grandfather, and had
hitherto been unwilling to appear in public; though she could not help
looking forward with satisfaction to the greater liberty she would be
able to enjoy. Reginald had had a long conversation with her about his
friend Burnett; and she had confessed that she would rather become his
wife than that of the most wealthy and powerful prince in the country.
So Reginald, knowing his friend's sentiments, considered the matter
settled.
He took an early opportunity of telling Burnett, who thanked him
heartily for having undertaken his cause with the ranee.
"You will ever find me, I trust, my dear Reginald, faithful and devoted
to your interests," he added.
"That I am very sure you will be," said Reginald. "But, charming as my
sister is, I suspect her education is not quite up to what a young
English lady's should be. We must get her better instructed in certain
female accomplishments. I contemplate asking Colonel Ross to allow her
to reside with his daughter in the cantonments, where she cannot fail to
benefit by Violet's example, and such instruction as she is able to
impart. I wish that the colonel would get over his visit of state, that
I might return it, and have the opportunity of seeing Violet, when I
would broach the subject. It is tantalising to have her so near, and
yet not to be able to go and see her."
Burnett thought Reginald's plan a very good one, and was sure that Nuna
would be delighted with it.
So occupied had Reginald been since the death of the rajah, that he had
been unable to write to Colonel Ross, who might possibly be still
ignorant of who he was. For the same reason he had not as yet written
to Violet. Managing at length to withdraw himself for a short interval
from the crowd of courtiers and nobles who had arrived to pay their
respects--of suppliants who came with petitions or complaints--and of
officers of various grades who waited to receive orders--he had retired
to the only room in which he could enjoy that privacy which he so much
required. Near it was one occupied by Burnett; and on the other side
was a chamber which he intended for the use of any European guest who
might visit the palace.
He quickly wrote the letter to Colonel Ross, telling him of the
wonderful change in his circumstances. He assured him that he now
possessed the documents of which he had been in search, and which
enabled him to claim a handsome estate and title in England; and he
expressed a hope that Colonel Ross would not refuse to allow him to look
forward to the possession of his daughter's hand. It was, it must be
stated, a very humble and moderate letter, considering the position the
writer enjoyed.
He then began one to Violet, giving a brief account of all his
adventures; assuring her that his love was unaltered, that the splendour
of his court had no attractions for him, and that he would abandon it as
soon as he had performed his duty to the people by placing them under
the English Government, and return with her to her native land. He had
still much more to say--indeed, he was not altogether satisfied with
what he had said--when an attendant entered and informed him that an
English officer had arrived with despatches from the cantonments, and
desired to deliver them in person.
Reginald, with somewhat of a sailor's carelessness, left his papers on
the table at which he had been writing, with the casket and the precious
document it contained. Remembering that he ought to assume the state
and dignity in which his grandfather always appeared in public, he
habited himself in his rajah's costume, and, with the chief officers of
his household, entered the reception-hall; at one end of which he took
his seat on a raised ottoman, which served as a throne, his grim
bodyguard in full armour lining either side of the hall, while the late
rajah's scimitar and shield hung above his head. All being arranged, he
directed that the officer should be admitted.
On the curtain being drawn aside for the entrance of his visitor,
Reginald's eyes fell on Captain Hawkesford, who was advancing towards
him. He kept his countenance, wondering whether he should be
recognised; but it was evident from the captain's manner that he did not
suspect into whose presence he had been admitted. Speaking Hindostanee
with tolerable fluency, he did not require an interpreter; and having
gone through the usual ceremony, he delivered his dispatches, which
Reginald eagerly read. The captain then gave a verbal message he had
been directed to deliver. It was to the effect that the resident hoped
to be allowed, in the course of a day or two, to pay his respects to his
highness, to congratulate him on his accession to the dignity of Rajah
of Allahapoor, and to express his sympathy at the loss he had sustained
by the death of his father, of which he had only just heard. The
resident had been led to suppose that the ranee would have succeeded;
and he was rejoiced at the thought that the government of the country
was in the hands of one who, he doubted not, would be well able to rule
the people, while he begged to assure him of the cordial support of the
British Government.
Reginald--who had his reasons for not wishing Captain Hawkesford to
discover who he was--naturally fearing that his pronunciation might
betray him, answered with due caution, and kept his eyes fixed on the
captain's countenance. The result of his scrutiny convinced him that
his guest was still under the impression that he was in the presence of
a native prince. He was still further assured of this when Captain
Hawkesford asked if his highness could inform him what had become of the
young Englishman who was said to have been at the court of the rajah,
and to have accompanied him in his disastrous expedition against the
hill tribes. It was his duty, he observed, to warn his highness against
that young man, whose objects were open to suspicion; for although he
was accompanied by an English officer, he had come up the country
without any authority from the Government at Calcutta. It was
considered more than probable that he was a Russian spy, whose aim was
to create a disturbance, and either to set the people against their
rulers, or, by instigating the rulers to conspire against the English,
to allow the easy access of a Russian army into the country.
"Does the British resident send this as a message to me?" asked
Reginald, restraining his indignation.
"I was not directed to deliver it," answered Captain Hawkesford; "but I
considered that it would be advisable to warn your highness,--and I
mentioned the subject merely, as it were, in the course of
conversation."
"I will follow your advice, and watch the proceedings of the young man--
who is, I have every reason to believe, still in the city," answered
Reginald. "The late rajah held him in high esteem, and from what I know
of him I should not have supposed that he was a Russian spy, or a person
likely to be engaged in plots against the English Government."
"Your highness should be aware that conspirators find it necessary to
assume all sorts of characters and disguises, and that, plausible as the
person in question may have appeared, he is not the less likely to be an
arrant rogue."
"We will suppose him, then, to be a rogue, till he has been proved to be
an honest man, and narrowly watch his proceedings," said Reginald in a
tone which made Captain Hawkesford start, and look earnestly at
Reginald. The latter, however, kept his countenance, and after some
further conversation directed that the English officer should be
conducted to the guest-room, where he might rest till the time appointed
for a banquet, at which several nobles, as well as Captain Burnett, were
to be present. Reginald, after having received a few petitions, and
transacted some other public business, retired to his room, where he
threw off his robes of state, and assumed his light seaman's dress,
which he infinitely preferred to wear. He had an object, however, on
this occasion, in doing so. He wished to visit his Christian friend
Dhunna Singh privately, whose sons, including Buxsoo, were busily
employed in gaining information for him; for he was well aware that he
could not trust any of his nobles, or any other person about the court.
There might be honest men among them, but he had as yet been unable to
discover them. The intelligence he had received from Dhunna Singh was
unsatisfactory. There could be no doubt that the plot of which he had
before heard for his destruction, and for the overthrow of the British
rule, was fast ripening, and he could not but regret that the old rajah
had petitioned for the English forces,--which, though they might, under
ordinary circumstances, have materially assisted in keeping his own
subjects in check, were utterly inadequate for the purpose should the
whole country rise in arms, as he was led to fear would be the case. He
resolved, in consequence of the information he had lately received, to
send Captain Hawkesford back with a despatch to Colonel Ross, warning
him of the danger, and urging him to be on his guard.
After waiting for some time to see Buxsoo, who had been out in the city
picking up fresh information, Reginald returned to the palace
accompanied by Faithful, who usually attended him when he went out
without a guard. Entering by the rear of the palace, he made his way,
as was his custom, up the back steps to his private room. A curtain
hung before the doorway, and what was his astonishment and indignation,
on drawing it slightly aside, to see Captain Hawkesford seated at the
table, pen in hand, and busily employed in making notes from the
documents which he had taken out of the casket! He hesitated for some
moments as to how he should act towards the captain. He could, however,
scarcely restrain his anger when he saw him, after reading the despatch
to Colonel Ross, deliberately glance his eye over the letter to Violet.
Boiling with rage, he drew from his belt a revolver, without which he
never went abroad, and silently walked up to the table, which he reached
without being perceived by the intruder. Faithful, entering at his
heels, sprang forward and raised her head above the table, on which she
placed one of her huge paws, directly facing the captain, who threw
himself back in his chair with a look of horror and despair in his
countenance.
"What treatment do you expect from the man whom you have maligned, whose
private letters you have, contrary to all the laws of honour, ventured
to peruse?" exclaimed Reginald. "I am not going to imbrue my hands in
your blood; but this tigress would, at a word from me, tear you limb
from limb. You have broken through all the laws of hospitality, and in
consequence of my carelessness obtained a secret with which I wished no
one to be acquainted till the proper time arrived for making it known."
"I--I--I--I humbly beg your pardon," exclaimed the captain, his voice
trembling with terror. "I had no idea that you and the young rajah of
Allahapoor were one and the same person. When I spoke as I did, I
merely repeated the reports I had heard. I entreat you to forgive me,
and I faithfully promise to keep your secret."
"I have no choice but to trust you," answered Reginald sternly. "You
see that your father, who would have deprived me of my property and
title, has no prospect of success if I live and can produce these
documents. What you would have done with them had I not opportunely
arrived, I cannot pretend to say. But I am not anxious for further
conversation. Retire, sir, to your room. It is my desire that you
appear at the public banquet as if nothing had happened, and after that
return as soon as you can to the cantonments with the despatches which I
will deliver to you for Colonel Ross. The private letter you have had
the audacity to read, I will send by another messenger. And now, sir, I
say again, go, and meditate on what has happened. That I have spared
your life, may induce you to act with some degree of gratitude."
Hawkesford, obeying the order he had received, rose from his seat. A
loud growl uttered by the tigress made him spring rapidly towards the
door. She would probably have followed and caught him, had she not been
restrained by the voice of her master.
Reginald having closed the door behind the retreating officer, sat down,
and thought over the position of affairs and the numerous important
matters which pressed on his mind. That he was surrounded by dangers of
all sorts, he felt convinced. He knew full well that he had traitors
within the walls of his palace; and that his subjects, who had lately
received him with shouts of exuberant joy, might at any moment turn
again and shout loudly for his destruction; while his troops could not
be depended on. He had his stanch friend Burnett by his side, and he
could rely on Dhunna Singh and his sons; while Faithful, he felt sure,
would defend him with her life. He was not, however, so much concerned
about his own personal safety as he was for that of Nuna; and as every
supporter was of consequence, he could not help wishing for the return
of Dick Thuddichum.
So absorbed was he in his thoughts that he did not calculate how the
time went by, and he was still sitting at his desk when an attendant
appeared to announce that the banquet was prepared. Not forgetting this
time to lock up his documents, and to stow away the casket in a place of
safety, he hastily donned his Oriental costume, and entered the grand
hall, where the guests were already assembled, with as serene a
countenance as he could command. Taking the seat hitherto occupied by
the old rajah, he summoned Burnett to a place by his side; requesting
Captain Hawkesford, who stood with a somewhat downcast look, to take one
on the other hand; the nobles and other guests dropping into their
places according to their rank, leaving one side of the table, as was
usual, unoccupied. Reginald had left the whole arrangements to the
"master of the ceremonies," having forgotten to express any wish on the
subject; the customs which had been in vogue during the old rajah's time
were consequently adhered to.
As soon as the more substantial part of the feast had been concluded, a
band of dancing-girls and musicians made their appearance; followed by a
puppet-show, which might have afforded amusement to a party of children,
but which to Reginald's taste appeared absurd in the extreme. He felt
far more disgusted with the performances of the nautch-girls, and he
resolved to prohibit their introduction in future.
He expressed his intention to Burnett. "I agree with you," was the
answer; "but I am afraid that your plans, if carried out, will make you
unpopular with your courtiers."
"I would rather be unpopular than sanction so barbarous a custom."
"There are not a few barbarous customs which you will have to get rid of
before you will be satisfied," said Burnett.
"No English lady would like to see her sex so degraded by being
compelled to exhibit themselves as these poor girls are," said Reginald,
thinking of Violet.
"I suspect that the performances at an English opera-house can scarcely
claim a higher position than the exhibitions of these nautch-girls,"
observed Burnett.
"I never went to an opera in England, but I should not have supposed
that a scene like this would have been tolerated in a civilised
country," said Reginald.
"Your highness is very particular," observed Captain Hawkesford with a
scarcely suppressed sneer.
"No man can be too particular in doing what is right," said Reginald,
turning away from his guest, to whom he had hitherto paid just as much
attention as etiquette required.
He was glad, however, when the banquet came to a conclusion; when,
issuing an order that Captain Hawkesford's escort should be in readiness
to start, he, with studied formality, wished him goodbye; and telling
Burnett that he desired his company, he retired to his private
apartment.
Burnett in a short time made his appearance.
"I cannot stand this sort of thing much longer," Reginald exclaimed, as
he paced up and down the room. "I will try to carry out the necessary
reforms, and I will then beg the British Government to take possession
of the country, and to preserve order as best they can. I am sure
Violet will never be happy here; and I intend proposing a return to
England as soon as her father will consent to our marriage."
"There is not much probability that the colonel will refuse his
permission," observed Burnett, laughing; "and I trust that you will
allow me, at the same time, to become the husband of your sister."
The next day, Colonel Ross arrived to pay his state visit. Reginald
received him with a full display of Oriental magnificence. As soon as
etiquette would allow, he begged his presence in his private apartments,
where, having briefly narrated his adventures, he gave an account of his
birth and prospects. He declared that his sole ambition was to become
the husband of Violet, and to devote himself to the delightful task of
making her happy.
"You have hitherto known me only as Reginald Hamerton, and such I might
have remained had I not visited Allahapoor, where, in an unexpected
manner, I was acknowledged by the rajah as the son of his daughter, and
by his means succeeded in obtaining possession of certain documents
which I had been charged by my father if possible to obtain. Some were
title-deeds of large estates in England: the most important, however,
being the marriage certificate of my father and mother; the existence of
which was denied by those who disputed my claim to the title of Lord
Hamerton and the possession of the estates."
Colonel Ross, as Burnett had shrewdly suspected, did not hesitate to
afford Reginald his hearty sanction to his marriage with his daughter.
"Indeed," he added, "after having discovered that my daughter's heart
was truly yours, I had determined to waive any objections I entertained,
should I, on further inquiries, have found you as worthy of her as she
believed you to be."
Reginald was warm in his expressions of gratitude. He felt infinitely
happier than he had been for many a long day. Indeed, all the
difficulties with which he was surrounded appeared to have vanished.
Colonel Ross willingly agreed to his proposal that Nuna should take up
her residence in the cantonments with Violet, and it was arranged that
Reginald should escort his sister there the following day. The colonel
was residing in a bungalow which had been repaired for his reception,
and which would afford sufficient accommodation for Nuna and the few
attendants she wished to accompany her. Reginald would gladly have set
off with the colonel, but he was unwilling to leave Nuna in the palace
alone; he was compelled, therefore, to restrain his impatience until the
following day.
He wisely kept his plan a secret; and when the richly-caparisoned
elephants, escorted by a body of horse, were seen moving through the
city, it was supposed that the ranee was simply going to pay a visit of
state to the daughter of the English resident.
Reginald rode on horseback, with Burnett by his side, and attended by a
party of his trusty guards; and he arrived some time before his sister.
It need not be said that he was fully satisfied with the way in which
Violet received him. When Nuna arrived and dismounted from her
elephant, Violet was also ready to give her an affectionate greeting.
As Violet led her to a seat, Nuna gazed round the neat and nicely
furnished room. "Oh, this is what I shall enjoy far more than the
gorgeous magnificence of a palace, with the pomp and ceremony I have had
to undergo," she exclaimed. "You must teach me English ways and
manners, for I want to become quite an English girl, like you."
Violet promised to do her best; and she and Nuna, greatly to Reginald's
satisfaction, were soon as intimate as if they had been acquainted all
their lives.