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Updated: June 2, 2025
He thought out his plan of action while Diggle was speaking. His impulsiveness prompted a flat defiance in few words; policy counseled a formality of utterance equal to Diggle's. "These carts certainly contain merchandise, Mr. Diggle," he said. "It is the property of Mr. Edward Merriman, of Calcutta; I think you know him? It was removed from Cossimbazar; but not, I assure you, illegally.
Him Diggle felled; then he crawled painfully into the saddle and galloped away, Scipio Africanus leaping up behind. By this time his followers were dispersing in all directions all but eight luckless men who would never more wield cutlass or lathi, and a dozen who lay on one side or other of the barricade, too hard hit to move. Diggle's escape passed unnoticed until it was too late to pursue him.
All he could do was to return and report the matter to Mr. Merriman. "Come along, Bulger," he said, with an unceremonious gesture to Omichand. "We can do no good here." "The old Ananias!" growled Bulger, as they walked away. "What in thunder is Diggle's game here? I'd give a year's 'baccy to have a chanst o' usin' my hook on him." Mr. Merriman looked grave when he heard what had happened.
Burke, to be out of this Diggle's clutches. By the way, have you seen him since he sold you to the Pirate?" "He came a few days before I escaped, and wanted me to come here as a spy. Angria promised me my freedom and a large sum of money." "What's that?" cried Merriman. "Wanted you to come as a spy?" "Yes, sir." "And what did you say?" "I told him he might do it himself."
Imprisonment was much less stringent in those days than now; the prisoner was allowed to see visitors and to live more or less at ease. The only clue to Diggle's escape was afforded by the discovery that, at the same time that he disappeared, there vanished also a black boy, who had been brought among the prisoners from Gheria and was employed in doing odd jobs about the harbor.
But, after all, Diggle's quarrels were his own concern. That his past life included secrets Desmond had long suspected, but he was not the first man of birth and education who had fallen into misfortune, and at all events he had always treated Desmond with kindness. So the boy put the matter from his thoughts. The incident, however, left a sting of vexation behind it.
But fright appeared to have bereft the khansaman of all power of movement. Yet Desmond, for more than one reason, was unwilling to leave him. He knew what Diggle's tender mercies were; but he also knew that the khansaman, if discovered, would certainly try to purchase his safety by betraying his companion. So, without more ado, seizing him by the neck, Desmond shook him vigorously.
The distance to Malda, as the Armenian had told him, was six miles four by river, two by land. By Diggle's route it was ten miles. The horsemen had had such a start of him that he feared he could not overtake them in time. Still, the storm that now helped him would hinder them. If he survived the perils of the river passage he might even yet succeed. He was alive to the risks he ran.
Diggle had warned him that he would find seafaring men somewhat different from the country folk among whom all his life hitherto had been passed. Diggle's frankness had pleased him. They had left the Four Alls early on the morning after that strange incident at the squire's.
"Poor Tom Diggle's estate and negroes being for sale, owing to Tom's losses and extravagance at play, and his father's debts before him Madam Esmond saw here was a great opportunity of making a provision for me, and that with six thousand pounds for the farm and stock, I should be put in possession of as pretty a property as falls to most younger sons in this country.
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