Again they stood and stared into each other’s faces—sharing a thought, baffled, at bay, but not “all in” yet, not defeated yet.
CHAPTER XXXII
Several moments passed, and neither moved, neither spoke again, neither lowered his eyes.
They stood so—still, grim, determined, but not yet seeing their way—when Rukh strolled into the room, debonnaire, spick and span in the latest Bond Street Rotten Row attire.
He accosted them instantly, jauntily, and hospitably. “Good-morning, Major! Good-morning, Doctor! How do you like my snuggery? I hope you have slept well?” Neither answered him. “No? Ah, perhaps you find this altitude trying? Never mind. We have methods of dealing with insomnia.”
Antony Crespin answered him then. “Come now, Raja,” he complained lustily; “a joke’s a joke, but this cat-and-mouse business gets on one’s nerves. Make arrangements to send us back to the nearest British outpost, and we’ll give you our Bible oath to say nothing about the—pleasantry you’ve played on us.”
“Send you back, my dear Major?” The Raja held up slim horror-shocked hands, but under their lowered lids his dark eyes danced wickedly. “I assure you, if I were ever so willing, it would be as much as my place is worth. You don’t know how my faithful subjects are looking forward to to-morrow’s ceremony. I have just come in from my morning ride, and in all my experience of them, I have never before been so acclaimed, met with such bubbling enthusiasm, such gratitude. They are children, and they are demented with their childish joy and anticipation of to-morrow. If I tried to cancel it, there would be a revolution. You must be reasonable, my dear sir.” He spoke in a low purring voice—a caress in it even—more vindictive, more implacable than any explosive show of hatred and malice could have been, and seated himself carelessly at his writing-table.
Crespin turned on him furiously.
“Do you think we would truckle to you, damn you, if it weren’t for my wife’s sake? But for her we’ll make any concession—promise you anything.”
“What can you that is worth a brass farthing to me?” Rukh retorted. “No.” He spoke vehemently now, pent up ferocity storming out from angry voice, hate-full eyes and eloquent, quivering hands. “Asia,” he hissed, “has a long score against you swaggering, blustering, whey-faced lords of creation, and, by all the gods! I mean to see some of it paid to-morrow!” His show of storm ceased as suddenly as it had come. He added suavely, “But in the meantime there is no reason why we shouldn’t behave like civilized beings. How would you like to pass the morning? I’m sorry I can’t offer you any shooting. I mustn’t lead you into temptation. What do you say to billiards? It soothes the nerves. Here is the billiard-room,” he told them, and opened the door. “I have a little business to attend to, but I’ll join you presently.”