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But I marvel at this, khansaman: that on one day, this day of my speaking to you, I should meet the sahib's most trusty servant, as I doubt not you are, and also the man who has sworn revenge upon the owner of this house ay, and on all the household." He was thoroughly interested, but as yet unconcerned. "What do you mean, khalasi?"
A vicious kick cut short his protestations, and the two passed out of hearing of the two watchers above, the khansaman having brought his quivering flabbiness to Desmond's side. Diggle passed into the entrance hall, the native horsemen waiting like statues at the gate. "It is the sahib!" whispered the shaking khansaman to Desmond: "Digli Sahib. He will kill me. He is a tiger."
"Hold, khalasi!" panted the khansaman; "I will do what you wish. Believe me, you are the first khalasi from Gujarat I have seen " "Or you would not have delayed so long. Quick, man!" With a downcast air the man set off. The sun was getting high; being fat and soft, the khansaman was soon in distress. But Desmond allowed him no respite. In about two hours they arrived at the house he had mentioned.
It was Higli no, Digli Sahib accursed be the day I first saw him." Desmond drew a long breath. "And what became of the bibi and the chota bibi?" "They were taken away." "Whither?" "I do not know." The answer was glib; Desmond thought a little too glib. "Why then, khansaman," he said, "I fear it would be vain for me to reason with the man I spoke of.
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.
Hold your tongue, piece of seaweed, or by the beard of the Prophet " The threat was never completed, for Desmond, stepping up close to the man, caught him by the back of the neck and shook him till his teeth rattled in his head. "Quick! Lead the way! Foolish khansaman, do you want your fat body shaken to a jelly? That is the way with us khalasis from Gujarat. Quick, I say!"
"It is not true," he said. "But I know the blind fury of revenge. Do thou entreat him for me. I will pay thee well. Allah knows it was not my doing; it was forced upon me." "How could that be, khansaman?" said Desmond, letting pass the man's contradictory statements. "It is not necessary to explain; my word is my word."
It was idle to speculate; they were gone; and there was no obvious clue to their whereabouts. The khansaman, limp and damp after his unwonted exercise, had squatted on the floor and was fanning himself, groaning deeply. Desmond went to the window of the room and looked out over the country; wondering, longing, fearing.
"No doubt; but so enraged is the khalasi I speak of that unless I can explain to him fully he will not heed me. Never shall I dissuade him from his purpose." "It is the will of Allah!" said the khansaman resignedly. "I will tell you. It was not Sinfray Sahib at all. He was at the Nawab's court at Murshidabad. He had lent his house to a friend while he was absent.
"I parted but now, on the river, from a fellow boatman who of late has lain in prison at Hugli, put there, they say, by order of Sinfray Sahib. He is not a dacoit; no man less so; but false witnesses rose up against him. And, I bethink me, he said that the sahib's khansaman was one of these men with lying lips.
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