Trapped by Malays Part 4

"Because he is Suleiman's friend."

"That's saying you don't like Suleiman."

"No. But I don't like him, and he hates me."

"Why?"

"Because he likes my country."

"And I suppose you like his?"

"I? No. I have got plenty of land that my father left me. He sent me--you know; I told you--to England."

"Yes, I know; to be educated and made an English gentleman."

"Yes," said the young man, with a sigh; and his handsome half-Spanish countenance clouded over. "And I did work so hard to make myself like you young Englishmen; but I had not the chance."

"But you did splendidly. I heard of how high a position you took."

The young Rajah smiled sadly and shook his head.

"You say that as a sort of compliment," he said.

"That I don't. I never pay compliments, for I know you don't like them.

If you did, you and I shouldn't be such friends."

The young Rajah turned and gazed fixedly in the speaker's eyes for a few moments, and then turned hastily to help himself from the dish handed to him.

"No, we shouldn't," he said in a low voice as soon as the dish was removed; and he began to trifle with the food. "Yes," he continued, "those were jolly days at the big school; and it seemed so strange to come back here from studies and cricket and football." He laughed softly as he turned merrily to look at his companion again. "I say, how I used to get knocked about! The chaps used to say that it got my monkey up, but I suppose it did me good."

"No doubt," said Archie merrily. "You got over wanting to kris the fellows, didn't you?"

"Of course; and it made me so English that I don't want to kris the poor fellows now that I have come back and am Maharajah here in my father's stead. But it was all no good," he added, with a sigh.

"What?" exclaimed Archie wonderingly.

"No good," repeated the young man. "He sent for me to come home, but it was only to say good-bye and tell me that I was to love the English and be their friend so as to make them my friends. 'They are a great people, Hamet,' he said--'a great people. We are only little chiefs, but they can rule the world.' I want to be their friend, but somehow they don't like me but make much of Suleiman."

"Oh, wait a bit," said Archie. "I think you are wrong. We English are such blunt people. Why, our Major--he was my father's schoolfellow-- he's a splendid old chap."

"Yes; but he doesn't trust me," said the young Malay.

"Oh, you wait."

"I like your doctor."

"Well, you must like Sir Charles Dallas."

"What! Suleiman's Resident? I don't know him. Your English Queen--I mean Her Majesty--"

"Yes, I know," said Archie, laughing.

"She has not sent a Resident to live in my country."

"No. Do you know why?"

"Yes," said the young man coldly. "She does not trust me."

"Ha, ha, ha!"

"Why do you laugh?"

"At you."

"But why?"

"Because she does trust you--or, rather, our Government does."

The young man turned sharply to gaze with a searching glance in the speaker's eyes.

"What do you mean?" he said.

"Go on with your dinner, old chap, and I'll tell you by-and-by. Here's Down wants to have a word with you.--Don't you, Down?"

"Ah yes, Captain Down," said the young Rajah, bowing towards him. "I seem to know you. Maine says you are such a splendid shot. Are you?"

"Oh, I can pull a trigger, and I can hit something sometimes," said the young officer.

"Sometimes!" put in Archie. "Why, he never misses. You ought to know more of him, Rajah. He's like that old country gentleman's two sons who loved hunting and shooting. He's a regular Nimrod and Ramrod rolled into one. Understand?"

"Yes; I read that in the old joke-book. Then your friend will come and have some shooting. Will you not?"

"Rather!" said the Captain; and the general conversation went on till the old English custom was in the ascendant and the Major gave Her Majesty's health and the band played "G.o.d save the Queen;" and afterwards the Major proposed the health of their guest, His Highness Sultan Suleiman, who afterwards rose and bowed two or three times, said a few words very clumsily, and then turned towards the _distingue_- looking guest on the Major's left, and sat down; whereupon the French guest said a few words to the Major, who rose and announced that the Count de La.s.selle would respond for the Sultan Suleiman.

There was the customary applause as the Count arose; and in very good English, which he only had to supplement now and then with a strong dash of French, he returned thanks for their ill.u.s.trious guest, who, he could a.s.sure the English officers, had but one aim in life, and that was to be the friend and ally of the great British Queen. His speech was long and very flowery, and he did not forget to say that there was no other country in the world suited to be the Sultan's ally but beautiful France, his own country, he was proud to say, and he was sure that she too would always be the great friend of the Sultan; at which some one at the table uttered in a low voice that was almost like a cough the e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, "Hum!"

Archie turned sharply, and exchanged glances with Captain Down.

"What did the Doctor mean by that?" said the latter.

"Don't know," said Archie. "Shall I go and ask him?"

"By-and-by. Look at your friend."

"Why? What do you mean?"

"He looks as if he felt that he was being left out in the cold."

Archie glanced at the young Rajah, who was sitting back picking his cigarette to pieces; and then his attention was taken up by seeing the big, bluff Sergeant of the regiment making his way behind the chairs to where the Doctor was seated.