Draw Swords! Part 65

"I or my people? No," said the Rajah. "Can you?"

"Only this, sir--that he must have been waylaid and carried off, if he has not been a.s.sa.s.sinated by some of your people."

There was a loud exclamation at this, and several of the officers, with indignant looks, clapped their hands to their swords; but the Rajah made a sign and there was silence.

"This is an insult to us, Captain Wyatt," he said; "and if you are sincere in your declaration that you do not know where he is, you will agree to this."

"Will you explain what you mean, sir?" said Wyatt haughtily.

"Yes. The matter concerns your young officer, whom I have trusted, and to whom I have shown the greatest favour; but as the matter concerns your brother-officers as well as yourself, and the honour of all is concerned, I must ask you to send for Captain Hulton and Doctor Robson to come here."

Wyatt's eyes dilated with the suspicion he felt, and his face looked harder and sterner than ever as he replied:

"Captain Hulton is still an invalid, sir, and Doctor Robson has nothing whatever to do with the conduct of our troop. I am in command, and the matter concerns me, and the honour generally of the troop. Mr Darrell, our young officer, has suddenly disappeared; I ask you and yours for some explanation, and I am told that it is a matter concerning our honour; have the goodness to tell me what you mean."

There was again a low murmur and fierce gesticulations amongst the officers, who resented Wyatt's tone, for he was speaking to the Rajah as if he were the offender being called upon to explain.

The Rajah sat troubled and stern for a few minutes as if irresolute, while the Wazir and other officers whispered together in a way which made Wyatt feel that his life was hanging, as it were, upon a thread.

"It is most painful, and a sorrow to me," said the Rajah at last, "for I have behaved to this Mr Darrell as if he were my friend."

Wyatt nodded shortly.

"He has come and gone here as he pleased, and my mother has during the past month treated him as if he were a son."

Wyatt nodded again.

"He has been as free to go to and from her apartments as I have, and in opposition to the custom of our people, for she has often laughingly said he was but a boy."

"Well, sir," said Wyatt sternly, "what has this to do with the disappearance of my brother-officer?"

"This," said the Rajah fiercely, and with his face full of the anger and disgust he felt: "my mother came to me quite early this morning to make her complaint of the treatment she had received."

Wyatt was watching him searchingly.

"She has found that her ivory cabinet has been opened, and the whole of her diamonds, emeralds, pearls, and rubies are gone. You know the beautiful jewels she had."

"Yes," said Wyatt, "I know. They were magnificent, queenly. Well, sir?"

"Well," said the Rajah, looking at him wonderingly, "my mother, the Ranee, tells me that Mr Darrell was seen to go to her rooms yesterday, and now he has fled."

"Oh, I see," cried Wyatt scornfully; "you mean that my brother-officer, a gentleman--an English gentleman--enjoying your hospitality, trusted by you in every way, has behaved like one of the vilest budmashes of the bazaar."

"What else can I believe after my mother's words?" cried the Rajah angrily.

"Bah!" raged out Wyatt; "I'd answer for him with my life. Rajah, shame on you! How can you be such a child?"

There was a roar at this, but the Rajah held up his hand, and turned to Wyatt.

"Then where is he?" he cried. "Why is he not here to answer to this charge?"

"You have been sending for me, sir?" said a familiar voice, and d.i.c.k Darrell, who had entered in the confusion un.o.bserved, let fall the heavy curtain he had drawn aside, and stepped forward to his brother-officer's side.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

WHAT d.i.c.k SAW.

"Hah! d.i.c.k, lad," whispered Wyatt, grasping his hand, "never more welcome than now. Not hurt?"

"Oh, no."

"Where have you been?"

"Out. I'll tell you soon, but his highness wants me."

"Yes," cried Wyatt fiercely, "and I'll tell you why. Through her highness the Ranee's announcement to him, the Rajah, who does not know what an English gentleman is, charges you with sweeping off as loot the whole of her valuable gems. Now, then, speak out: tell his highness what you have to say to that."

"Very little," said d.i.c.k coolly; "but I am not surprised."

"What! not surprised that his highness should say that?"

"Of course he would be indignant."

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Wazir.

"Well," cried Wyatt, "why do you not tell him it is an insult?"

"Because it would be too childish," said d.i.c.k contemptuously. "I take them! He cannot believe it."

"I do not want to believe it," cried the Rajah excitedly, "but it is made so clear to me that it was you."

"Absurd!" cried d.i.c.k proudly, and he laughed in the Rajah's face. "The precious stones were taken by some one in the palace."

"Yes," cried Wyatt, "and as an excuse to shift the blame on to us."

"Looks like it," said d.i.c.k sharply.

There was a roar of anger at this, and the Wazir and half the officers present drew their swords.

"It is an insult to us all, gentlemen," cried the Wazir fiercely.

"It is no insult to the gentlemen present, brave officers of the Rajah,"

cried d.i.c.k excitedly, "but to one man only--the man who would stand by and hear the blame laid upon another--the coward, the thief!"

"Ah!" cried the Wazir, frantic with rage. "Then who was it? Let the Christian dog speak,"--sliding forward threateningly, sword in hand.

"Christian?--yes," cried d.i.c.k excitedly. "Dog yourself, and thief!"