Show t norm n E EM BY TALBOT 0 0 0 a TALBOT MUNDY SERVICE CHAPTER continued 18 the bengali backed away from norwood ile he looked three shades paler ile he was trembling the ma hara jahs right hand seized the drumstick of the golden gong he rais rals edIt no said norwood not yet please your highness the maharajah Mah arajah stared ile he seemed uncertain whether to feel eel flattered or offended he laid down the drumstick and resumed the tapping on the desk with his fingernails 1 I become nervous he said without my tonic this is very bad for my nerves captain norwood how did you know about this norwood answered without looking at him he was watching the bengali and the white clad servant 1 I know I 1 guessed it both of you go and stand over in that corner with your backs to the halll the servant obeyed promptly he went down on his knees in the corner he put his hands together and held them in front of his face the bengali backed away slowly watching No eyes he backed until he reached a bookcase suddenly he snatched a stamp album and hurled burled it at the goblet norwood caught the album in his right hand by one leaf of the cover he set the goblet on the desk without spilling more than two or three drops then he closed the album carefully and gave it to the maharajah Mah arajah the maharajah Mah arajah petted it stroked it my collection of cape of good hopeel my triangular blackl he glared at the bengali you vandall now I 1 know you are ara guilty why did you throw it the bengali had recovered some of his presence of mind it was at him I 1 threw it by his touch he has denied your drinking goblett he Is a bribe I 1 suspect him of having tampered with your tonic what has he put into it I 1 advise your highness not to taste IV ill the door behind the screen opened closed again and the appeared norwood bowed to her but she took no notice of him she went straight to the sarajah rajah knelt beside his chair and whispered he grumbled at her sotto voce she continued whispering at last he nodded she stroked his right hand murmured traditional phrase of respect and left the room she even glance at the 1 I need my tonic said the me ma sarajah ha rajah 1 I am becoming more nervous each minute whiskey and soda should be a good prescription for that said norwood id have brought a flash it if I 1 had any sense I 1 think of it 1 I have never denied myself with whiskey said the Mah maharajah Mahara arajah fah norwood kept his eye on the bengali if you had never drunk anything worse than a scotch and soda they be betting in kadur bazaar that be dead by midnight any money on oa it it doctor what odds did you get the door behind the screen opened again the reappeared veiled she was followed by lynn and then Rund hia bla locq looked startled he shot one penetrating glance at the bengali then abnor at norwood then at the maharajah Mah arajah lie he made a very obvious effort to recover self possession captain No norwood rood said the ha ranee why did you wish to see me I 1 about this said norwood he time to reply decently he had noticed that was trying to signal the bengali through the he opening under the desk so he got la in the way As soon as had stood up again norwood spoke Rund hla hia heres something tor for your bruised face come and drink it lynn stared with parted lips from one man to the other glanced at her he looked stung seared scared sullen norwood looked at lynn once since she entered the room the maharajah Mah arajah pointed the gong drumstick at the bengali stand still he commanded it if you are unable to stand you may sit on the floor where you are Rund hia bla said norwood how about a trial by ordeal you have accused me behind my back I 1 accuse you to your face of an attempt to poison his highness what do you say shan shall we share this drink together you drink hall half IU drink left you are the last man I 1 would drink with retorted norwood laughed he thrust his right hand into his tunic steady keep your band away from your pocket I 1 have you covered lynll reach into Rund hlas bip pocket and put his pistol on the desal lynn stared resentful alarmed puzzled parted lips wide blue eyes frowning norwood repeated the order lynn do as I 1 tell youl lynn felt in his pocket she laid la id an automatic on an the table Rund hia she said 1 I think that of you Rund hial said the she had bad unveiled her face ace lynn spoke again Rund hia you came to offer captain norwood something else than that you where is it snarled tell him to put his own pistol on the desk 1 I one said norwood he reached for or Hund Rund hlas hias pistol leaked it open and broke it there came a knock at the door the rearranged her veil norwood stepped aside keeping his eyes on Rund hia who was biting his up III the maharajah Mah arajah tapped the gong with his fingers the door opened the anteroom attendant spoke rap idly in his native tongue the ma sarajah looked like a frightened right ened sheep he nodded speechless the attendant bowed in the resident and closed the door behind him norwood still holding the goblet in his left hand reopened the door and jerked his head at the bengali get he commanded the resident stared he almost forgot to bow to the maharajah Mah arajah he fit 1 I have never deffler myself with whiskey said the alaba rajah watched the bengali leave the room then he looked at norwood adz again and raised his eyebrows norwood spoke sotto voces voce did my man follow you yes said the resident all right then the doctor wont get tar far you surprise us said the me ma sarajah ha rajah we are overburdened with joy by this visit but what does it mean the resident looked comfortless 1 I am at a loss for an answerl answer I 1 captain norwood sent me a sort of SOS he may I 1 speak asked norwood the resident answered 1 I think better it if his highness yes please said the mahara jah Rund hla hia said norwood he held up the blue goblet in his left hand almost as if he were going to drink a toast lets hear bear your accusation cusa tion what have you against me eyed him sullenly nothing he answered 1 I dont know yol you norwood smiled very cautious of you Rund hia I 1 am really alive alave the resident also smiled he star tied every everyone oae by saying Rund hia there is a conversation on record of course only my version of it but I 1 refused you remember to treat it as confidential I 1 made a memorandum of it swallowed what was left of his dignity he was looking beaten lie he spoke as if the insolence had an all oozed out of him 1 I forget what I 1 said I 1 withdraw it anyhow I 1 have already written this he groped tn in his inside pocket avoiding lynns lynna eyes although lynn looked sympathetic he produced an envelope strode past lynn and offered it to norwood norwood waved it aside and jerked his head toward the resident the resident accepted the envelope I 1 and bowed to the maharajah Mah arajah you permit me by an all means I 1 am fascinated lynn was watching the resident he had opened the envelope he read the letter he passed it to norwood Is this satisfactory to you norwood its entirely up to you sir I 1 accept atif you do the resident stepped forward and laid the letter in front of the mahe maha rajah will your highness please read that and if you see fit witness it I 1 have a gallant officer here in need of a rebuttal of some secret accusations that might ruin his care career r the maharajah Mah arajah read stared at the resident stared at Hund Rund hla hia stared at norwood reached for his fountain pen and signed recovered a bit of his insolence are you satis satisfied fled he demanded no said norwood not yet he reached for the goblet raised it sniffed it smiled at Rund hia then he looked straight at lynn lynn was watching the bill she seemed conscious of No stare whispered to her but she took no notice Rund hla hia said norwood 1 I win will ask you two questions answer whichever you please what is in this goblet the pulled herself to her feet picked up her cushion and went and knelt at the maharajahs Mahara jahs left hand so that she could watch Rund hla Rund hla hia she said answerl said nothing he glared at al norwood lynn turned in her chair to watch face norwood spoke again you dont answer the first one very well heres the other why did you sign that retraction I 1 ask you for it who did was silent Sp akl said the she had unveiled her face she was looking at lyno lynn glanced at lynn lynn looked suddenly straight at norwood and spoke with such constrained emotion that her voice sounded fiercely angry captain norwood I 1 asked run adhia to write that if it what you wanted you may blame me No lips moved toward a smile but he saw her embarrassment so he checked it he looked straight straighten In her eyes for several see sec ands before he looked at agin again substitute question Rund hial you answer that one how much did you charge for this retraction of your accusation against me had had time to consider ho he sneered 1 I wrote that as an act of magnanimity was it wasted on you norwood glanced quickly at lynn no no Rund hia bia it wasted but tell us an all what Is in this goblet I 1 could have it analyzed perhaps you would prefer to consult that bat bengali doctor before you answer question a bit awkward your trouble is that you cant guess how much I 1 know can you can you guess why I 1 let tho the bengali leave the room any chance that he betrayed you rather drop the question very well answer the other how much or what did you charge and to whom for the magnanimous retraction of your accusation against me I 1 insist on an answer spoke sullenly nothing no one I 1 dont even know what you mean norwood looked at lynn her lips moved he was in time to check her please say not nothing hingl I 1 want run adhia to tell it Rund hla hia choose I 1 wont wait all night account tor for the contents of this goblet or else answer what promise have you exacted from whom the spoke in a strained voice answer him run cicia was silent lynn stared he avoided her eyes if I 1 should have to mention this goblet again said norwood 1 I will ask his highness the maharajah Mah arajah to summon the guard what promise have you exacted from whom as the price of your signing that retraction there was no price the was looking at lynn she spoke suddenly run adhia speak like a maril there was a stared at his feet ile he had the grace to speak as it if he were ashamed he almost mumbled 1 I release her from the promise norwood looked at lynn steadily do you accept that no I 1 refuse Is this your vengeance its cruel the retraction satisfy you norwood smiled at lynn and made mada a reassuring gesture run adhia stared he looked astonished the stood up norwood spoke lynn did tell you that I 1 tore up your letter he lied hed your aunt gave it to me less than an hour ago it reached her by mistake in the wrong envelope 1 I confirm conform that said the resident lynn stood up and waited for run adhia to speak he Rund hla she said did you hear that then turning thank you captain norwood just a misunderstanding norwood answered 1 I win will explain it later lynn shook her head her eyes met his hia but she made no reply she left the room by the door behind the screen the followed her silence the resident wiped his face with the handkerchief steady norwood he said steady he spoke aloud to the maharajah Mah arajah does your highest wish 1 I wish for tranquillity tranquill ityl 1 I 1 do not care to know any morel carry said the resident carefully Care full norwood raised the goblet this time in his right hand you dont deserve this Rund hia youre a blackguard he glanced at the res ident you agree sir the resident nodded the ma sarajah stared fascinated norwood spilled the contents of the goblet on the floor the maharajah Mah arajah turned to run abla leave the room never return moved toward the door behind the screen but the resident gaii jumped ed out of his chi chair ali Rund hili began to hurry norwood was too quick ile he shoved the screen in Rund hias way it banged 9 against the door and the noise almost made the maharajah Mah arajah scream your highness said the resl resi presence I 1 take this opportunity to inform you that chati I 1 have written to his maj bestys advisers strongly recommending thern them to exercise their veto in the matter of prince Bund hlas succession to the throne of kadur 11 you have already written 1 I have mailed the letter 1 I resign said Run dlila sullenly you and your veto may go to the devil may I 1 speak to your highness alone asked the resident the maharajah Mah arajah scowled at run adhia go out that wayll way I 1 he pointed to the door into the anteroom walked out norwood followed he overtook at the tha head of the stairs and turned about and faced him 1 I sincerely regret he remarked looking straight into nor woods eyes that the men who fired at you missed yes you had rotten luck run adhia what will you do go to europe the riviera crowded with might have beens who insisted on hitting below the belt ayou know Rund hla hia if I 1 had even suspected you of having put one over on lynn harding I 1 would have let you hang you know they hang even princes who play at your you game he laughed no run adhia no you win will walk ahead of me down the stairs I 1 know that trick TO BE CONTINUED |