As Mrs Bolter filled a glass from a carafe upon the sideboard, the
doctor took a bottle of strong salts offered by one of the ladies
present, and held it beneath the young man's nostrils, but without the
slightest effect.
Then the water was handed to the doctor, who liberally used it about the
young Prince's face, as the Resident drew near and gazed upon the
prostrate figure, keenly noting the clayey hue of the face and the great
drops of dank perspiration that stood upon the brow.
"What is it, doctor?" he whispered.
"Fainting--over-excitement," replied Dr Bolter. "He's coming round."
The fact was beginning to be patent to all, for a change was coming over
the young man's aspect, and he began to mutter impatiently as the drops
of water were sprinkled upon his face, opening his eyes at last and
gazing about him in a puzzled way, as if he could not comprehend his
position.
Then his memory seemed to come back with a flash, and he started up into
a sitting position, muttered a few Malay words in a quick, angry manner,
sprang to his feet, and then, with his eyes flashing, he snatched his
kris from the band of his sarong, showing his teeth and standing
defiant, ready to attack some enemy with the flame-shaped blade that was
dully gleaming in his hand.
"Come, Rajah," said the doctor, soothingly, "be calm, my dear sir. You
are among friends."
"Friends!" he cried, hoarsely. "_No_: enemies! You have let him take
her away, I know," he hissed between his teeth; "but you shall tell me.
Who else has gone?"
"Captain Hilton," said the doctor.
"Yes, I was sure," hissed the Malay. "He was always there at her side.
I was ref--fused; but I cannot sit still and see her stolen away by
another, and I will have revenge--I will have revenge!"
The Malay Prince's aspect told plainly enough that he would have sprung
like a wild beast at his enemy's throat had he been present; and saving
Mrs Bolter and Grey, who stood holding her hand, the ladies crowded
together, one or two shrieking with alarm as the Resident quietly
advanced to the young Malay.
"Put up your weapon, sir," he said firmly. "We are not savages.
Recollect that you are amongst civilised people now."
The Rajah turned upon him with so fierce and feline a look that Grey
Stuart turned paler than she already was, and pressed Mrs Bolter's hand
spasmodically; but Harley did not shrink, he merely fixed the young man
as it were with his eyes, before whose steady gaze the sullen, angry
glare of the young Prince sank, and he stood as if turned to stone.
"Yes," he said, in a guttural voice; "you are right;" and slowly
replacing his kris in its sheath, he covered the hilt with his silken
plaid before standing there with his brows knit, and the veins in his
temples standing out as if he were engaged in a heavy struggle to master
the savage spirit that had gained the ascendant.
"That is better," said the Resident, quietly. "Now we can talk like
sensible men."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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