Wyatt set it down to the Rajah's hearing of their large accession of
stores which accompanied the little reinforcement, for the very next day
there came an invitation from the palace for the officers to spend an
evening there.
"What's to be done?" asked Dick.
"Mustn't display doubt or hesitation," replied Wyatt, "though I trust
his lordship less than ever. He's going to be civil now because we are
stronger, and he feels that it is his best policy. What do you say,
Hulton?"
"I quite agree with you. I'd let him see that we feel more independent,
too."
"How?" asked Wyatt.
"Do not accept the offer of an elephant and party. Ride there with an
escort of our own men in full review order."
"Well done, counsellor," said Wyatt. "Excellent."
"You will go this time," said Hulton.
"I? Oh, no; he must be content with you, Darrell here, and the doctor."
"No," said Hulton firmly; "you have not been there yet, and I think you
ought to be present instead of me."
"Think so?" said Wyatt, hesitating.
"I do. Stubbs will be with me, and I feel strong enough to take command
for the few hours you are away. Besides. I feel sure that we have been
fidgeting unnecessarily. We have only to act decisively, and do as we
please."
"I think you are right," said Wyatt, "and I believe if we liked we might
seize the whole of the place."
"But we do not want it--only the Rajah's faithful alliance with the
Company."
All was done in accordance with the little conference. The message was
sent, and in due time twenty men turned out in full review order, under
the command of one of the newly-arrived sergeants, and the escort dashed
up to the palace in their best style, to the surprise and excitement of
the people and the Rajah's followers, taking up the position of guards
on either side of the entrance when their officers entered, while the
Rajah's guard drew back.
The reception of the three officers was warm in the extreme, the Rajah
appearing perfectly frank and gentlemanly when they met, and walking
with them out into a balcony from whence he could see the escort drawn
up by the entrance.
"I am glad you came like this," he said. "Your people are grand. I
like the people to see your strength, and I congratulate you on the safe
arrival of your fresh men."
He led the way back into the reception-room, and when they were seated
he turned to Dick.
"I'm afraid you have thought me very neglectful, Mr Darrell."
"Well," said Dick, "to be frank, we began to think that there was
something very wrong, as you seemed so changed towards us."
"Not changed in the least, Captain Wyatt," he said, turning now to his
other guests.--"A man situated as I am, Doctor, cannot do quite as he
pleases."
"I suppose not, sir. Even our King cannot at home."
"I am glad of that," said the Rajah, smiling, and he addressed Wyatt
now. "You see, I could use force, but I shrink from slaughter, for I
think I can achieve my ends without playing the tyrant who delights in
blood. And there is my mother. After that cowardly attempt upon the
old palace, I determined to try a fresh means of securing peace and the
full alliance of all my leading people with the English Company, as I
wish; and at last, just when I felt that there must be war and the
destruction of all who oppose me, the leaders of those against me in
political matters have given way. Gentlemen, you know how English I
wish to be, and how hard I have fought to win my mother's old friends to
my way of thinking. I have succeeded now. You will meet my mother, the
Ranee, who gives up her old-world prejudices, and will act like an
English lady by receiving you at dinner this evening in company with her
old ministers, the Wazir and the chief Brahmin from the great temple."
The visitors murmured their satisfaction, and, at the first opportunity,
Wyatt caught Dick's eye with a look which that gentleman interpreted to
mean, "I wish the these people were at the bottom of the sea!"
Wyatt coloured guiltily the next moment, for the Rajah turned to him,
saying:
"I am very glad to have your company at last, Captain Wyatt. It has
almost seemed as if you would not come."
"Your highness praised the discipline of our men," he replied.
"Yes; it is perfect."
"It is, sir; but it is only arrived at by the officers giving up social
pleasure to constant duty. I should have come before if I could have
spared the time."
The Rajah smiled and turned to Dick, whom he seemed to honour above all;
while Wyatt said to himself:
"And, now I am here, I hope you are not going to play any tricks with
us, my Arabian knight. I shall feel more comfortable for having our
lads there under the window."
There was a movement by the curtained door, and a couple of armed men
marched in with drawn tulwars, to stand holding back the heavy hangings.
"The Ranee, my mother, gentlemen," said the Rajah, rising as the
handsome, stately woman swept in, followed by her two elderly friends,
she literally blazing with magnificent jewels, while the Wazir was in a
rich uniform and the Brahmin in simple white, looking a peculiar
contrast to the Rajah, who wore garments of the most sober hue.
The Ranee held out her hand to Dick, smiling in the most gracious way,
and treating him as if they had been old friends. To Wyatt she was
dignified and rather distant, while the doctor received a condescending
bow.
The two ministers seemed to take their cue from their lady, but every
now and then they were effusive to a degree, and more than once Dick
noticed that downright Wyatt frowned and looked annoyed; but he strove
hard all the same over the dinner, which was handsomely served in the
adjoining room, the Rajah having evidently taken pains to gratify his
guests by making everything as English in style as he could.
He had placed the Ranee on his right, and was about to place Richard
Darrell on his left, but, at the Ranee's express desire, he had a seat
on her right, Wyatt and the doctor being on the Rajah's left, while the
Wazir and the Brahmin sat opposite to one another at the lower end of
the table, the bottom being left vacant.
Flowers, beautiful glass, Indian china, and gold and silver plate
covered the table; and, expressly for the guests, decanters of wine were
placed here and there.
The two guards who had drawn aside the heavy silken hangings in the
reception-room had raised them again when the party moved into the
dining-room, and then followed, to remain on guard by the door, through
which the servants in white and scarlet came and went noiselessly with
the various choice dishes that were handed round; while, after a few
minutes of stiff formality, the conversation became general.
But somehow Dick did not feel at his ease. It seemed to him, after what
had passed, that there was a want of reality about the Rajah's efforts
to entertain his guests; while, to his way of thinking, if ever there
was treachery masked in two faces, it was plainly in the shifty, smiling
countenances of the two elderly ministers who met his eyes from time to
time.
Then, too, he did not like the two guards standing on duty by the door,
with perhaps a score more close at hand, ready to rush in at a given
signal; and consequently, choice as were the viands offered to him, he
could not enjoy his dinner in the least during the early part, in spite
of the ready and gracious way in which the Ranee kept talking to him and
smiling pleasantly at his readiness in reply in Hindustani.
All at once there was the rattle of accoutrements below the window, as
if a horse had shaken itself violently, and a loud neigh rang out, one
he recognised as being uttered by his own charger, and a change came
over him immediately.
"What a coward I am!" he thought. "Just as if it were likely that any
treachery could be meant when we have our guards within call!"
The next minute his common-sense set to work to disillusionise him, and
point out how easily any treacherous act could be perpetrated before
help could come, and seemed to ask him of what use a score of mounted
men would be at such a time.
But Dick would not listen to his silent mentor, for the Rajah spoke to
him across his mother, the Ranee joined in the conversation, and the
lad's cheeks flushed with pleasure as he found that he, as the Rajah's
friend, was being made the most important of the three guests at the
table.
The meal went on, and the Rajah laid himself out to introduce topics of
interest to all, the last being in connection with the proceedings of
Rajah Singh, who, he told them, had been so utterly disgusted by his
ill-success that, as his spies informed him, he was not likely to
attempt to invade the territory again.
Wyatt shook his head at this, and took upon himself to advise his host
not to be too sanguine, but to remain carefully on guard lest he should
be taken unawares.
Then, as the Englishmen very moderately sipped the excellent French
claret that was placed at their side, the doctor was drawn into
conversation by the Rajah, who scrupulously, like his mother and the
others, refrained from wine.
The doctor was asked to give his opinion about the terrible visitation
of disease from which Soojeepur suffered from time to time, and, being
here upon his own ground, he spoke out plainly upon the necessity for
improving the sanitary arrangements of the city, assuring his host and
the Ranee that if certain rules which he could set forth were observed,
the mortality would cease by one-half; and he grew more emphatic as he
saw the two ministers raise their eyebrows and exchange glances.
The Rajah noticed this, and spoke out at once.
"Then you shall make those laws," he said, "and they shall be carried
out, for it will be to benefit all. The time has come, gentlemen, when
my people must pass from the night of the old days to the bright
sunshine of the new;" and he looked sternly towards the foot of the
table as he spoke. "Her highness, my mother, understands my wishes now,
and you, gentlemen, who have so bravely come to my assistance, shall see
now that I am about to throw away as worthless all the old teachings and
superstitions of the people as regards caste, and begin acting as
civilised people do."
He made a sign to the chief servant in attendance: and as Dick listened
and watched he heard the Ranee sigh softly, and noticed that the
heavily-jewelled hand she laid upon the table close to him twitched and
trembled, while the two ministers bent over the table and looked down
upon their plates.
"They don't like it," thought Dick; and the next minute he was watching
the chief domestic, in his white muslin and scarlet cummerbund, his dark
face looking solemn and strange beneath his white turban, as he advanced
silently and slowly, bearing a gold tray upon which were seven tall,
old-fashioned champagne-glasses filled with the foaming wine, ready to
hand first to the Ranee, who shook her head and closed her eyes; next to
the Rajah, who took his glass; and then to the visitors in turn.
"No, no," said the Ranee softly as she gave Dick a troubled look. "It
is not good for boys."
"Then I will not drink," he replied, smiling at her; but he saw that her
brow was contracted and her eyes closed.
Then his attention was taken up by what was passing at the bottom of the
table, where the Wazir and the Brahmin both drew away from the proffered
glasses.
"Very well, gentlemen," said the Rajah quietly, "I will not force you;
but the day will come when you will both look upon this act as innocent
and right.--You, gentlemen," he said, "will have no scruples. I drink
to you, even if I lose caste."
With a quick movement he tossed off his glass, and then, bending quickly
to his left, he struck Wyatt's glass from his lips, and, startled by the
action, the doctors fell from his hand, both glasses shivering as they
fell. The two ministers started up in their places, as did the queen,
who made a quick clutch at Dick's arm and then stood trembling.
"Treachery! Poison!" cried the king hoarsely, and his dark eyes flashed
as he glared at the two men who had risen. "It was like fire--it means
death. Ah!" he cried, turning upon the Ranee with a look of agony and
grief, "this from you--from my mother!"
"No, no," shrieked the Ranee wildly, "it is not true, my son. By your
dead father, I swear!"
"Ah!" he cried, with a sigh of relief, and he turned to glare at the two
old ministers, who stood clutching the table without daring to move, and
as if waiting for the end.
Wyatt and the doctor had in turn sprung from their seats, Dick following
their example; and as the Ranee's hand dropped, the Rajah clutched at
Dick's arm in turn, beckoning to Wyatt with the hand at liberty.
"It is an enemy's blow!" he gasped. "You, both of you, stop the coward
stroke. Bring your soldiers here to save me, and seize the temple
there. If I am to die, your people shall hold the place."
Wyatt sprang to the window, and at a word the sergeant rode close up.
"An orderly at once to Captain Hulton," he cried. "Every man to turn
out and gallop here with the guns."
That was enough.
As he turned back, it was to see the doctor bending over the Rajah and
the two ministers making for the door.
"Arrest those men," cried Wyatt to the two guards.
"They will not obey," thought Dick; but, to his surprise, they faced
round, drawn sword in hand, and placed themselves before the two
officials, whose dark countenances looked wild and strange.
Meanwhile the doctor had passed round behind the Rajah's chair, taken up
and raised Dick's untouched glass to his lips, tasted, and spat out the
wine. Then, filling a glass with water, he half forced the Rajah to
drink again and again, in spite of the agony he seemed to be in.
Wyatt, returning from the other end of the room where the prisoners
were, gave the doctor a questioning look, which he answered aloud:
"One of their cursed vegetable poisons, I believe," he said; and Wyatt
turned upon the Ranee.
"This must be your doing, madam," he said sternly.
"No, no," she cried wildly; "he is my son--my son!"
"Prove it, then, by your help," said Wyatt.
"Yes, yes; tell me what. Oh, my son, my son!"
She fell upon her knees by the Rajah's chair and caught his hand in
hers, looking up at him wildly.
Then, standing up, she looked at the doctor inquiringly.
"He must be taken to his room," said the doctor; and the servants came
at the Ranee's sign to bear their Rajah away.
"You will not want us, Doctor?" said Wyatt hastily.
"No; you have your work to do, I see."
The Rajah made a sign to Dick as he was being carried out, and the lad
darted to him, to have his hand seized by one that was wet with agony
and like ice.
"My guards are true," whispered the Rajah; "they will obey you. Protect
the Ranee--"
He could say no more, the doctor interposing, and, followed closely by
the Ranee, the sufferer was borne out.