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Updated: June 24, 2025
The remark was one that would have gained him smiles and approbation from his female acquaintances in the Bayswater boarding-house, but Ida glared haughtily at him and most of the men longed to kick him. Dreading a cutting and sarcastic speech from her friend, Noreen hurriedly interposed. "Isn't the Puja festival in her honour, Mr. Chunerbutty?" "Yes, Miss Daleham, it is.
Sets of tennis were arranged and the game was soon in full swing. Some of the men walked round to the back of the building to select a spot to be cleared to make a polo ground. Others gathered at the bar to chat. Noreen had a small court round her, Chunerbutty clinging closely to her all the afternoon, to her secret annoyance.
"I say, Chunerbutty, who's the lady?" asked Granger. "I can't say I like her looks." "No, she certainly isn't a beauty," said the Brahmin with a contemptuous laugh. "Yet these superstitious fools believe in her, ignorant people that they are." He indicated the female worshippers, who had been staring with malevolent curiosity at the English ladies, the first that most of them had ever seen.
Having thus made sure that he would not be overheard Dermot said: "Gentlemen, a few of you already know something of what I am going to tell you. I want you to understand that I am now speaking officially and in strict confidence." He turned to his host. "I must ask you, Mr. Chunerbutty." "Not tell Chunerbutty, sir?" repeated the young planter in astonishment.
"He may have discovered it in time," said the engineer. "Englishmen fear snakes greatly and always look out for them." "Ha! and did he not eat and drink the poisoned meal prepared for him by our skilfullest physician?" There was no answer to this. The mystery of Dermot's escape from death was beyond their understanding. "There is certainly something strange about him," said Chunerbutty.
Before the verandah steps a group surrounded something on the ground, while the servants were standing together talking to a man in European clothes, whom Dermot, when he drew nearer, recognised as Chunerbutty. The group near the steps scattered as he approached, and Dermot saw that the object on the ground was a native lying on his back, covered with blood and apparently dead.
Noreen's casual liking for him but her frank indifference to him in any other capacity than that of a pleasant companion with whom to ride, dance, or play tennis, piqued him, but not sufficiently to make him risk losing his cherished freedom. Chunerbutty left Darjeeling after a week's stay.
"I called out to the engineer and asked him what it all meant," went on the boy, "but he took no notice of me. Parry tottered towards him, abusing him. Chunerbutty let him come to within a yard or two, then pulled out a pistol and fired three shots straight at the old man's heart. Poor old Parr fell dead." Daleham paused for a moment. "Poor old chap!
Therefore he begged Noreen for his sake not to hurt the engineer's feelings and to treat him kindly. She could not refuse, and Chunerbutty took every advantage of her sisterly obedience. Whenever they went to the club he tried to monopolise her, and delighted in exhibiting the terms of friendship on which they appeared to be.
Well, some of the coolies attacked me with lathis, others tried to protect me. Then I was hustled back to the bungalow where those Mohammedan servants that you got for us lucky you did! turned out with rifles, which they said afterwards you'd given them, and wanted to fire on the mob. But I stopped them." "Where was Chunerbutty?" "Oh, he hadn't thrown off the mask yet.
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