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Outside the air was filled with wars and rumours of wars, with reports that the Granthi army was moving on Ranjitgarh, or that this or the other Sirdar was about to cut the communications with Agpur, and in the society of James Antony and his intimates these were the topics that everybody discussed.
"I might hold back your reports, or send on forged ones instead, or ruin you in about a hundred different ways." All Gerrard's communications with Ranjitgarh were to pass through Darwan, lest Partab Singh should intercept them on the shorter route. "When I am inclined to feel hipped, I shall spend a happy hour or so in devising uncomfortableness for you, my boy."
A fresh paroxysm of tears succeeded the angry words, and Honour yielded to the ayah's whispered entreaties, and left the room. Grief and resentment combined to give her a very disturbed night, and when Lady Cinnamond arrived, tired and travel-stained, about mid-day, after an unbroken journey from Ranjitgarh, she was shocked at her daughter's appearance.
This uncharitable view of the exploit penetrated to Ranjitgarh, and drew from Sir Edmund Antony a grieved and reproachful letter such as even Gerrard's veneration for his chief could not brook with meekness.
You will find me relegated to my original obscurity by that time, with a duly appointed Brigadier a nya jawan riding roughshod over my tenderest feelings, but you can still swagger as the officer accompanying the forces of a friendly state." Gerrard had not been listening. "Bob," he whispered, "I I can't go to Ranjitgarh." "Why not, old boy'?" "She may be there.
"We hear strange things of the Ranjitgarh Durbar," he remarked sarcastically, "how the due compliments are always offered, and any man may lift up his voice and be heard with mildness the wretch who was a slave but yesterday as readily as a prince of the house of Ajit Singh." "It is true," said Gerrard. "Our religion bids us be courteous to all men, and the Resident follows its precepts."
If Antony don't treat you to a pretty wigging on the score of it, I'll eat my hat." "It was a kind of fixed idea of his, though I told him over and over again it was impossible." "Well, if it had been me, hanged if I wouldn't have taken the job, as the wigging is bound to come anyhow. A man might do a good deal while the runners were going to Ranjitgarh and back.
In the intervals of dressing he scribbled a hasty note to Charteris, telling him what had happened, and that he should probably return to the city at once, urging him also to forward the news immediately to Ranjitgarh, and ask for definite instructions. Having seen this despatched, he mounted and rode over to the Rajah's camp, which was in a state of the wildest confusion.
That moral suasion might be duly backed up by physical force, ten thousand British and Indian troops, under the command of a Peninsular veteran, General Sir Arthur Cinnamond, were garrisoning the citadel of Ranjitgarh and holding the lines of Tej Singh in the suburbs.
But when Honour reached Ranjitgarh, under the escort of Sir Edmund Antony who fell ill again the day after his arrival, and was promptly ordered back to the hills by his doctors she found that the general opinion of Charteris's and Gerrard's conduct reflected his verdict rather than hers.
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