human
It's not so much the insult to me personally that I resent, as the loss of the opportunity of ending the campaign at a blow!
gpt
Quite so. You wouldn't,
human
Though it's perfectly clear that he was merely pursuing his grudge against me. He even stoops to vilify my poor fellows in order to justify himself. I hear that he said it was impossible to entrust such an important capture to an officer not under his authority, and to troops which had probably been bribed already to let Sher Singh slip past.
gpt
You had visitors before I came, then?
human
A whole lot of 'em. Uncommon sympathetic they were, too.
gpt
Uncommon pleased to get up a row between you and old Speathley, I should say. Don't you listen to 'em, Hal.
human
My dear Bob, there are some things one can't pass over. We have submitted to Speathley's caprices too long, and it's time to speak out. Personal injustice may be forgiven----
gpt
Precious little forgiveness about you just now,
human
But when it is a case of injury to the public service, it is necessary to make a stand,
gpt
Oh, all right; and what's your idea of making a stand? Challenging Speathley, or denouncing him to his face?
human
I shall write to the papers.
gpt
Sort of thing Lennox and Keeling are always doing, said Charteris carelessly.
human
Not quite our style, eh? But if your conscience impels you to ruin your own career and justify the Brigadier's dislike of you, I suppose I can't prevent it.
gpt
But think what he has sacrificed! Sher Singh will raise the country, bring down the Granthi army upon us, perhaps----
human
It's quite possible. But what I don't see is how your writing to the papers is going to prevent it.
gpt
It might lead to---- Hang it, Bob! is the fellow to go unpunished?
human
Won't he be punished enough when the story of Sher Singh's escape gets about--not to speak of the additional trouble we may expect here? Hal, old boy, let him alone. If you don't, you'll be sorry when you're yourself again.
gpt
For you to urge patience upon me is a novelty, said Gerrard, rather bitterly, but his step was less resolute as he tramped about the tent. Suddenly he sat down opposite Charteris.
human
Bob, I begin to think you are not so very far wrong. At any rate I'll wait before doing it. Who's that out there?
gpt
Heaven-born! Rukn-ud-din rose from his crouching position and saluted in the doorway.
human
It was told in the ears of this slave that your honour was very wrathful concerning the escape of the brother-slayer, and he presumed to approach unbidden with news.
gpt
And what is the news?
human
That the man who escaped was not Rajah Sher Singh at all, sahib.
gpt
What! you mean that he is among the prisoners?
human
Not so, sahib. He has never left the city.
gpt
But what--what reason have you for thinking so?
human
Does your honour think that the men who have been led by Sher Singh into their present evil case would permit him to forsake them? Surely they would hold him fast.
gpt
No doubt they would if they could, but I imagine he has given them the slip. Would he send his wife away without him?
human
Sahib, the woman says she is the Rani, but I think she is merely a slave-girl playing a part. If the Rajah wished the troops of the Company to believe he had escaped, would he not have devised just such a plot as this, sending forth a party intended for capture, that they might bear the news?
gpt
It struck me as so characteristic of Sher Singh to sneak away and leave his women to be captured that I should never have thought of doubting it,
human
But what good could it do to Sher Singh that we should think he had escaped, Komadan-ji?
gpt
That your honours would not look for him in the city when it falls, replied Rukn-ud-din promptly.
human
If there is some hiding-place in which he may seek safety --Gerrard's eyes met those of Charteris with sudden enlightment--
gpt
It is well. We will remember, said Gerrard.
human
Say nothing of this to any one, unless it be to Amrodh Chand.
gpt
It is an order, sahib.
human
The treasury!
gpt
D'ye think he did it, Bob?
human
I don't, if you ask me. I think it was a do.
gpt
Exactly, and he has secured himself a comfortable underground retreat, with two exits, both of which are known to us. We shall catch him like a rat in a trap, if we keep our own counsel.
human
I believe you, my boy! And now, what's your mature opinion of your plan for showing up Speathley? Ain't it ray-ther better to cover yourself with glory by producing the missing Sher Singh than by indulging a revengeful temper to put it out of your power to capture him? Old boy, he can't keep you out of despatches then! And the best of it is that you and I must do the thing all on our own hook, for the very good reason that we are both sworn not to reveal the secret of the treasury to a soul. We shall have to take Rukn-ud-din and Amrodh Chand into our confidence as far as the preliminaries go, and they'll be delighted to help, but they must understand that the thing itself is a Sahibs' job.
gpt
Don't forget that the whole thing depends on Rukn-ud-din's being right in saying that Sher Singh never left the city.
human
Oh, don't _buck_.[1] Of course he's right,