A Fascinating Traitor: An Anglo-Indian StorySavage, Richard
General
A Fascinating Traitor: An Anglo-Indian Story
Savage, Richard
India -- Fiction
“Just the thing!” gayly cried Willoughby. “Murray’s captaincy is in the
Gazette of to-day’s mail. I will order him down with you, in command
of the guard, and, at Calcutta, the Viceroy will release you from your
promise, so as to let him know that you can meet him in London. His
Excellency evidently wants to hoodwink all the gossips here, and, above
all, to blind old Johnstone. Now, Harry, I feel like a brute to let you
go without a poor send-off, but, by Heaven, the whole Willoughby clan
will follow you in London, and pay off a part of our debt for that
‘run-under fire’ with my wounded boy. Name anything you want. Do you
want any help to watch Johnstone?” The old General was eager.
“Ah! I fear that I must attend to him, alone!” sadly said Major
Hardwicke, whose heart was racked, for a fair, dear face now afar must
soon be clouded with sorrow and those dear eyes weep a father’s shame.
“Call, day and night, for anything you want!” heartily said the loyal
old father of the rescued officer. “The day before you go you must dine
with us, alone, and Harriet will give you her last greeting.”
As the day wore away, there was a jovial rapprochement in the special
car where General Abercromby and Major Hawke were gayly extolling Madame
Berthe Louison’s perfections. “Mind you, General, I am no squire of
dames,” said the Major. “You must make your own running.”
“Ah! my boy, you have earned your temporary rank as a Major of Staff,
when you’ve introduced me. I flatter myself that I know women!” cried
Abercromby as they cracked t’other bottle of Johnstone’s champagne.
“Take me to her, and then, I’ll take you to the Viceroy. I guarantee
your rank!”
“It’s a bargain!” cried the delighted Hawke. While Abercromby dreamed
of the lovely lady of the Silver Bungalow, Major Alan Hawke leisurely
examined a sheaf of letters from Europe which had been thrust in his
pocket by Ram Lal at parting.
“Victory!” he cried, as he read a tender letter from Euphrosyne Delande,
in which she promised her absolute compliance with his every wish.
“Justine has written to me herself,” was the underscored hint that the
three might join fortunes. “It’s about time for that Madras boat to
get to Brindisi,” mused Hawke, as they ran into Allahabad, “There may be
telegrams here now.” And, while General Abercromby jovially feasted,
Hawke ran over to his secret haunt to which he had ordered Ram Lal to
send any telegrams, for one day only, and then, the rest would be safe
with Ram’s secret agent in Calcutta. “My God! This is my fortune! Bravo,
Justine!” cried Hawke, “True and quickwitted. I now hold Berthe Louison
in my hand.”
He read the words--“Andrew Fraser, St. Agnes’ Road, St. Heliers,
Jersey.” The dispatch was headed Brindisi, and signed “Justine.” “A
man might do worse than marry a woman as true and keen as that,” smiled
Hawke. “I am a devil for luck!” And then he gayly drank Justine’s
health, in silence, when he joined the amorous Abercromby at the table.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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