A Fascinating Traitor: An Anglo-Indian Story — John Shaqi
A Fascinating Traitor: An Anglo-Indian StorySavage, Richard
General
A Fascinating Traitor: An Anglo-Indian Story
Savage, Richard
India -- Fiction
Love thrilled in the young man’s vacant heart, sounding the chords of
the Harp of Life. He had been in a glittering Indian exile long enough
to be very susceptible. “I spent two weeks up there with the expectant
Sir Hugh Johnstone,” lightly rattled on the aid. “I verified the fact
that the young woman is his acknowledged daughter. He has no other
lineal heir to the title, for an old, dry-as-dust, retired Edinburgh
professor, a brother, childless and eccentric, is living near St.
Helier’s, in Jersey, in a beautiful Norman chateau farm mansion, where
old Hugh proposed once to end his days. It seems to be all square
enough. I was as delicate as I could be about it, and the matter is
apparently all right. The papers have all gone on, and, in due time,
Hugh Fraser will be Sir Hugh Johnstone!”
Anstruther quaffed a beaker with guileful ideas of detaining his fair
neighbor, now ruffling her plumage for departure, for only a sporadic
knot of diners here and there lingered at the long table. “The girl
herself?” asked Hawke, with a strange desire to know more.
“Report has duly magnified her hidden charms,” replied Anstruther. “She
is called “The Veiled Rose of Delhi,” and no manner of man may lift that
mystic veil. I was treated en prince, but held at arm’s length.”
Hawke smiled softly, and said in a low voice, “I hardly see how all this
brings you over here. The Rose blooms by the far-away Jumna.”
“Then know, my friend,” laughed Anstruther, “such a rose as the peerless
Nadine Johnstone must have a duenna.” He deftly caught an impassioned
glance from the softly shining brown eyes, and hastily went on. “She was
educated right here in this emporium of watches, musical boxes, correct
principles, and scientific research. Mesdames Justine and Euphrosyne
Delande, No. 122 Rue du Rhone, conduct an institute (justly renowned)
where calisthenics, a view of the lake, a little music, a great deal
of bad French, and the Conversations Lexicon, with some surface womanly
graces, may all be had for some two hundred pounds a year. Miss Justine
Delande, a sedately gray-tinted spinster, has been tempted to remain
on guard for a year out in India, having safely conducted this Pearl
of Jeunes Personnes Bien Elevees out to the old Qui Hai. I have been
charged with some few necessary explanations and negotiations, the
delivery of some presents, and, when I have visited this first-class
institute, enjoying all the attractions of the Jardin Anglais and the
Promenade du Lac, I shall flee these tranquil slopes of the Pennine
Alps. Incidentally, the records of Mademoiselle Euphrosyne will confirm
the very natural story of the would-be Sir Hugh, whose vanished wife no
Anglo-Indian has ever seen. She is supposably dead. A last official note
after I have run on to Paris will close up the whole awkward matter. I
will call there tomorrow and then take the early train, as I am on for
a lot of family visits and sporting events before I can settle down to
have my bit of a fling.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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