The old woman must have been a marvellously sensitive subject, for she
leaned against the wall--her stool had no back--and closed her eyes in
apparent deep slumber almost immediately. Her face was perfectly
expressionless, and her limbs were absolutely still. She looked--as
Cyril thought, with a shudder--like a corpse. Durgo spoke softly in her
ear: "Are you free?" he asked gently.
"Yes," said Mrs. Tunks, in a far-away, faint voice.
"Go to the Manor-house."
"I am there."
"Enter!"
"The door is fast closed," said Mrs. Tunks, still faintly.
"Doors are no bars to you now; you can pass through the door."
There came a short pause. "I have passed. I am inside."
"Seek out Vand and his wife," commanded the negro softly.
"I have found them."
"What are they doing?" demanded Durgo, sharply.
"Packing boxes," came the response, without hesitation; "they talk of
going away to-night."
"Where to?"
"I can't say: they don't mention the place. But they leave the
Manor-house under cover of darkness to-night."
"Look for the jewels."
"I have looked."
"Where are they?"
"In a small portmanteau, marked with two initials."
"What are the initials?"
"M. F. Oh!" Mrs. Tunks' voice became very weary. "The mist has come on.
I can see no more. It is not permitted to know more."
Durgo looked disappointed, and seemed inclined to force his will. But
after a frowning pause, he waved his hands rapidly, and spoke with great
sharpness.
"Come back," he said briefly, and after a moment or so, the old woman
opened her eyes quietly. Her gaze met the angry one of Durgo, and she
winced.
"Have I not pleased you, master?" she asked, timidly.
"Yes. You have pleased me. But I wish you could have learned more."
"What did I say?" asked Granny, wonderingly.
"Never mind. Here"--Durgo produced a small canvas bag from his
pocket--"this is the money you have earned."
Mrs. Tunks hastily untied the mouth of the bag, and poured a glittering
stream of gold into her lap. "Fifty sovereigns, lovey," she mumbled, her
eyes glowing with avaricious delight. "Thank you, master; oh, thank
you."
"In an hour," said Durgo, indifferent to her thanks, "I shall send you a
small bottle containing a draught, which you can give to your grandson.
It will put him right; but of course a few days will elapse before he
can get quite strong again. This place"--he glanced disparagingly round
the dingy hut--"is not healthy."
"So I thought, master. And to-night Luke is going to my sister's
caravan. It's on the road outside Marshely, and the gel can take him
there. If Luke has a month or two of the open road, he'll soon be
himself again. Anything more I can tell you, master?"
"No. But to-night I am coming here, shortly after moonrise. Get rid of
your grandson beforehand, if you can."
"What is to be done, master?"
"Never mind. Do as you're told. Good-day," and Durgo, beckoning to
Cyril, went out of the hut. The white man followed, in a state of great
amazement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account