“I don’t understand about the cloud, but even so, my place is here. Surely you will see that—and—I am, all the same, very—grateful. I”—her voice shook and sank almost to a whisper—“I am glad that you care for me.”
At this moment a curtain was hastily swung aside and Lily appeared.
“Missy, the mem-sahib asking for you now; please to come quickly,” and with a swift glance at her “missy” obeyed; the purdah fell heavily behind her slim, white figure and Shafto was alone. His mission had been fruitless, and yet when he rode away from “Heidelberg” in his heart he carried the flower of Hope.
CHAPTER XXXIV
ALL IS OVER
That same evening, as Sophy was sitting alone in the veranda after dinner, Lily ayah appeared, her fat arms uplifted in eloquent appeal.
“Oh, missy—you come with me—I think our mem-sahib soon, soon die!”
“Die!” exclaimed Sophy, springing to her feet.
“Yes, somehow these drug people are too clever—she has got cocaine. I think that water man bring it; anyhow, mem-sahib has taken one big, big dose, and lies as one gone from the world.”
“Send at once for Herr Krauss—he is in his office,” and Sophy ran towards her aunt’s room and found, as Lily had described, that her relative was passing away; indeed, save for her faint breathing, one would have supposed that she had already crossed the border.
Herr Krauss cast one hurried glance, thundered out of the room, and rang up the telephone; then he returned and stood gazing at his wife, his face working with emotion.