As Verona hastened to produce her keys, and proceeded to unlock the bag, Mrs. Chandos continued:
"I will invest it for you, child; it will bring in good interest; as much as one hundred and fifty rupees a year, which will buy you clothes."
"No, no! it is all for you and father," protested the girl. "I only wish it were more! I really do not want it."
"Yes, that is what I said," agreed Mrs. Chandos, with astonishing animation; "but your father does not agree; it is your little dowry, he says, and is to be put by for your use alone. He will not touch one pice. Sometimes he can be as obstinate as a rock, and I have given him a promise not to accept one rupee from you. No! even should you offer it on your knees!"
While she was speaking Verona had unearthed a green silk bag, which she was now about to place upon the table, but Mrs. Chandos seized it from her, drew the string and emptied out the gold into one shining mass. How her eyes glittered and her cheeks blazed as she bathed her hands in the sovereigns, and let them dribble through her claw-like fingers. She appeared completely transformed, her complexion glowed, the hard lines on her face relaxed into smiles.
Verona, as she stared in wonderment, no longer disbelieved the tale that her mother had once been a beauty. How strange that the mere sight of gold should thus transfigure her countenance—for a second it was illumined with the colour and sparkle of her long lost youth. At this moment there was a sudden sound of crushed gravel without: the door was opened unceremoniously, and a tall, obese old man stood on the threshold. Verona's heart failed her as she beheld him, and asked herself the desperate question if here was yet another relation?
This time a pure native.
CHAPTER XIV
The visitor wore a long, blue cloth coat, belted with leather, a huge white turban and a venerable white beard. His air and expression of benevolent dignity recalled to Verona the pictures of the prophet Abraham.
"Why, it is Abdul Buk!" exclaimed Mrs. Chandos. "Abdul, what a man you are! I believe," laying her hand over the gold in front of her, "you smell money."