Show accra A m m MEN E i efm i T I 1 ww I 1 I 1 E T BY TALBOT TA L B 0 T MUNDY M U N DY 0 0 0 0 TALBOT MUNDY SERVICE CHAPTER 3 XI continued 18 the bengali backed away from JN norwood orwood he looked three shades paler he was trembling the ma hara jahs right hand seized the drumstick of the golden gong he raised it no said norwood not yet your highness the maharajah Mah arajah stared he seemed j uncertain whether to feel flattered or offended he laid down the drumstick and resumed the tapping on the desk with his fingernails 1 I become nervous 1 I he said of without my tonic this is very bad tor 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 do down doam am on his knees in the corner he put his hands together and held them in front of his face the bengali backed away slowly watch ling i ng No eyes he backed until it ii he reached a bookcase suddenly he snatched a stamp album and hurled 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 hopes my triangular blacki he glared at the bengali you vandall vandal now I 1 know you are 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 defiled your drinking goblet he is a bribe taker I 1 suspect him of having tampered with your tonic what has he put into it I 1 advise your highness not to taste iff it 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 ma sarajah ha 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 phrases of respect and left the room she even glance at the bengali 1 I need my tonic said the 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 if I 1 had any sense I 1 think of it 1 I have never defiled myself with whiskey said the maharajah Mah arajah norwood kept his eye on the bengall 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 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 looked startled he shot one penetrating glance at the bengali then at norwood then at the maharajah Mah arajah he made a very obvious effort to recover self possession captain norwood said the ha ranee why did you wish to see me about this said norwood he time to reply decently he had noticed that was trying to signal the bengali through the opening under the desk so he got in the way As soon as had stood up again norwood spoke Rund hia heres something 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 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 if you are unable to stand you may sit on the floor where you are Rund hia 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 shall we share this drink together you drink half ill drink left you are the last man I 1 would drink with retorted norwood f laughed he thrust his right hand into his tunic steady Rund hia hial keep your hand away awai from your pocket I 1 have you cov ered lynn reach into hip pocket and put his pistol on the desk desal I 1 lynn stared resentful alarmed puzzled parted lips wide blue blu eyes frowning norwood repeated the order lynn do as I 1 tell you lynn felt in his pocket she laid an automatic on the table Rund hia she said 1 I think that of you Rund hial said the she had unveiled her face 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 Rund hias pistol jerked jerked it open and broke it there came a knock at t the he door the rearranged h her er veil norwood stepped aside keeping his eyes on Rund hia who was biting his lip the maharajah Mah arajah tapped the gong with his fingers the door opened the anteroom attendant spoke rapidly in his native tongue the ma sarajah looked like a frightened 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 out he commanded the resident stared he almost forgot to bow to the maharajah Mah arajah he f fir r 7 1 I have never defiled myself with whiskey said the maha rajah watched the bengali leave the room then he looked at norwood again and raised his eyebrows norwood spoke sotto voce did my man follow you yes said the resident all right then the doctor wont get far you surprise us said the 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 captain norwood sent me a sort of SOS he may I 1 speak asked norwood the resident answered 1 I think better if his highness yes please said the mahara jah Rund 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 your accusation cusa tion what have you against me eyed him sullenly nothing he answered 1 I dont know you norwood smiled very cautious of you Rund hia I 1 am really alive the resident also smiled he startled everyone 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 ile he was looking loof cing beaten he spoke as if the insolence had all oozed out of him 1 I forget what I 1 said I 1 withdraw it anyhow I 1 have already alread yi written this he groped in his inside pocket avoiding lynns eyes although lynn lyn looked sympathetic he producer produced an envelope strode past lynn ad aad offered it to norwood aiwood wood waved it aside and jerke erke toward the resident k i the resident accepted 41 ive 1 1 lope and bowed to the afi you permit m me evs 4 by all means I 1 am tie V d lynn was watching rei ent he had opened thie the an he read the letter II 11 I 1 le t 0 norwood Is this satis actor facto or wood its entirely up to accept it if you do the resident stepp 1 1 I r and laid the letter in fro 1 L aha rajah will your K ile lease I 1 read that and it if you Y OU pee see t wit ness it I 1 have a gallanis gall gal lanit anKoff er here in need of a rebuttal af oe ecret accusations that mi ilan his career the maharajah Mah arajah read stared at the resident stared at Rund hia stared at norwood reached for his fountain pen and signed recovered a bit of his insolence are you satisfied he demanded no said norwood not yet lie he reached for the goblet raised it sniffed it smiled at Rund hia then he looked straight at lynn lynn was watching the but she seemed conscious of No stare whispered to her but she took no notice Rund hia said norwood 1 I will ask you two questions answer whichever you please what is in this goblet the pulled herself t to 0 her feet picked up her cushion an and d went and knelt at the maharajahs Mahara jahs left hand so that she could watch Rund hia she said answer answerl ill said nothing he glared at norwood lynn turned in her chair to watch Rund hias face norwood spoke again you dont answer the first one very well heres the other why di did a you sian that retraction I 1 ask you for it who did was silent speak akl I 1 said the she had unveiled her face she was looking at lynn glanced at lynn lynn looked suddenly straight at norwood and spoke with such co constrained n 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 in her eyes for several seconds before he looked at again substitute question Rund hial 1 you answer that one how much did you charge for this retraction of your accusation against me had had time to consider 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 it wasted but tell us all what is in this goblet I 1 could have it analyzed perhaps you would prefer to consult that bengali doctor before you answer question a bit awkward your trouble is that yoa cant guess how much I 1 know caa can you can you guess why I 1 let the bengali leave the room any 9 hance chance that he betrayed you rather drop the question very well answer awer the other how wan much or wyat t did you charge and to wh 0 or r t the e magnanimous re rep tracei 1 l your accusation against me uon an answer run ici raa poke abke sullenly nothing NO 0 son nit t even know what you nor booked at lynn her lips was in time to check her V ale 5 ay nothing I 1 want run adhia ili f it Rund hia choose I 1 won 11 night account for the scot athis this goblet or else ans at t promise have you ex A hom larabee ranee spoke in a str ol 01 ge answer him run dh ti g ws s silent lynn stared hf 0 led a her eyes have to mention this am in said norwood 1 I will aness the maharajah Mah arajah to he e guard what promise u exacted from whom as tie ce of your signing that rev ird A sere ere was no price iea was looking at mitI ashe spoke suddenly run df dc i adhia speak like a mant there was a promise 1 stared at his feet he had the grace to speak as if 11 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 re traction satisfy you norwood smiled at lynn and made a reassuring gesture run adhia stared he looked astonished the stood up norwood spoke ke lynn did tell you that I 1 tore up your letter he lied your aunt gave it to me less than an hour ago it reached her by mistake in the wrong envelope 1 I confirm that said the resident I 1 lynn stood up and waited for run adhia to speak he Rund hia she said did you hear that then turning thank you captain norwood vust just a mis misunderstanding g norwood answered 1 I will e explain x p ain it later lynn shook her head her eyes met his 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 H he spoke aloud to the maharajah Mah arajah does your highers wish 1 I wish for tranquillity tranquilI ityl 1 I 1 do not care to know any morel carry on 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 resident 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 adhia leave the room never return moved toward the door behind the screen but the resident jumped out of his chair began to hurry norwood was too quick he shoved the screen in Rund hias way it banged against the door and the noise almost made the maharajah Mah arajah scream your highness said the resident in prince Rund hias presence I 1 take this opportunity to inform you that I 1 have written to his maj bestys advisers strongly recommending them to exercise their veto in the matter of prince Rund hias bias succession to the throne of kadur you have already written 1 I have mailed the letter 1 I 1 resign said 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 u rit adhia go out that way he po pointed I 1 to the door into the anteroom walked out norwood followed he overtook at the 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 hia if 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 game he laughed no run adhia no you will walk ahead of me down the stairs I 1 know that trick TO BE CONTINUED |