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And none of them presented themselves. They called my lord Faruskiar a second time. Faruskiar made no response. Popof entered the car where this personage was generally to be found. It was empty. Empty? No. Sir Francis Trevellyan was calmly seated in his place, utterly indifferent to all that happened. Was it any business of his? Not at all.
The driver and stoker seem to be the object of their very particular attention. They are two brave Chinamen who have just come on duty, and perhaps Faruskiar is not sorry to see men in whom he can trust, with this imperial treasure and a hundred passengers behind them! The hour for departure strikes, and at midnight the engine begins to move, emitting two or three loud whistles.
And then in laudatory terms, which Pan-Chao translated to us, he thanked Faruskiar, complimented him, and gave him to understand that the Son of Heaven would reward him for his services. The manager of the Grand Transasiatic listened with that tranquil air that distinguished him, not without impatience, as, I could clearly see.
But we are in the midst of the deserts of Mongolia, where there are no juries as yet, which is a good thing for the Mongols. "Well," said I to the major, "I hope you have abandoned your suspicions with regard to my lord Faruskiar?" "To a certain extent, Monsieur Bombarnac!" Only to a certain extent? Evidently Major Noltitz is difficult to please. But let us hasten on and count our victims.
I do not see him at his post by the side of Miss Horatia Bluett, whom I questioned on the subject after saluting her politely. "Mr. Ephrinell has gone to give an eye to his cases," she replies. In the rear of the second car Faruskiar and Ghangir have installed themselves; they are alone at this moment, and are talking together in a low tone.
I hope we shall not meet him on our road." My pronunciation of the name of the famous bandit was evidently incorrect, for I hardly understood Pan Chao when he repeated it with the accent of his native tongue. But one thing I can say, and that is that when he uttered the name of Ki Tsang, Faruskiar knitted his brows and his eyes flashed.
He will not refuse to subscribe to the Twentieth Century. I am sure Paris, 48 francs, Departments, 56, Foreign, 76. While the train is running at full speed we talk of one thing and another. With regard to Kachgaria, which had been mentioned, Faruskiar gave us a few very interesting details regarding the province, which had been so greatly troubled by insurrectionary movements.
The bandits fire a volley, and begin brandishing their arms and shouting. Faruskiar, pistol in one hand, kandijar in the other, has rushed onto them, his eyes gleaming, his lips covered with a slight foam. Ghangir is at his side, followed by four Mongols whom he is exciting by word and gesture. Major Noltitz and I throw ourselves into the midst of our assailants.
The deed is then signed, first by them, then by the witnesses, then by Faruskiar, and the other signatures follow. At length the clergyman adds his name and flourish, and that closes the series of formalities according to rule. "There they are, riveted for life," said the actor to me, with a little lift of his shoulder.
Perhaps by listening? I approach the front door of the van, and in spite of the rumbling of the train I hear them distinctly enough Thousand and ten thousand devils! I am not mistaken! It is the voice of my lord Faruskiar. He is talking with Ghangir in Russian. It is indeed Faruskiar. The four Mongols have accompanied him. But what are they doing there?
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