Part 38 (2/2)
”Dead!” she repeated. ”No; I heard he had gone to Java.”
”He has gone to his grave. Last night I was told that his body was found floating near the landing-stage at Moulmein; there were no marks on it, no signs of a violent end; and yet he was the last man in the world to commit suicide.”
”Yes,” a.s.sented Sophy; ”he had so many plans and schemes for the future.”
”They say a little bunch of coa.r.s.e black hair was found in his clutch; however, at the inquest they brought in a verdict of 'Found Drowned.'
It saved trouble. I wonder who will get his money. He was enormously rich.”
”With ill-gotten gains.”
”Well, he must have some German kin to claim his fortune, and I'll make it my business to find out all I can when I return here.”
”So you are coming back?”
”Why, of course--possibly in six months. I leave my house and belongings all standing. Business is but temporarily closed. Burma, as old Krauss used to say, is 'the land of opportunity.' When next I see the Golden PaG.o.da, the whole of this rich and fertile country will belong to _us_.”
”You are sanguine!”
”Sanguine! I am certain; and why not? Look at our wonderful trade!
And the Burmese themselves like us a million times better than you English.”
”Simply because you bribe them with money and presents.”
”But look at the crowds,” waving his hand towards the ma.s.ses, ”who have come to say '_Auf Wiedersehen_'; thousands and thousands.” Then he turned his bold arrogant eyes on Sophy and said: ”Your country has no chance against us, Miss Leigh; we shall crush you like pulp--your money, treasures and trade will all be ours. Hullo!” he exclaimed, ”what are these police doing? Mounted police, too! Any escaped convicts on board?”
As he stood and watched, the swaying ma.s.ses were parted with authority and a large force ranged up on the quay. Officers and officials came on board, armed with an order from the Lieutenant-Governor. Among the first strode FitzGerald in full uniform, not the everyday genial Patrick, but a smart stern guardian of the law. Approaching the bragging Bernhard, he said, with frigid severity: ”Be good enough to go ash.o.r.e, Herr Bernhard.”
”What!” stammered his prisoner, who had become livid. ”What the devil are you talking about! How dare you interfere with me? Or give me an order?”
”Official order,” rejoined FitzGerald, entirely unmoved. ”All men of German nationality to disembark immediately and be interned.”
Sophy now made a forcible and frantic effort to effect her escape from this hateful situation, and struggling through the crowd eventually managed to join her own friends.
Disembark--to be interned! What a thunderbolt! All at once Bernhard's flushed countenance became livid, his eyes glared savagely, and there suddenly spread a choking, suffocating expression on his large handsome face. The noise and clamour of hoa.r.s.e angry voices became almost stupefying, but in the end the Teutons were compelled to accept the inevitable, and gradually streamed ash.o.r.e, carrying their hand baggage, parcels of delicatessen, and other comforts intended for the voyage.
The heavy baggage was hastily landed, for the _Blanks.h.i.+re_ had steam up and was bound to catch the tide.
A more than half-empty s.h.i.+p, she now slipped from her berth and turned her bows towards home. As she glided slowly by the wharf, Shafto and Sophy waved vigorous farewells to their numerous friends, Burmese and European. There was Roscoe, there were the Salters and Rosetta. Apart from all, a solitary little figure stood prominent on a heap of rice bags. It was Ma Chit, waving a pink silk handkerchief. For once she was not smiling, her piquant face was grave, and the eyes fixed upon Shafto conveyed an eloquent and heartbroken farewell; presently she cowered down and hid her face.
”That was a wonderfully smart _coup_!” said a s.h.i.+p's officer to Mrs.
Gregory and Sophy. ”Those German fellows that were trampling all over the s.h.i.+p as if she was their own property were neatly caught. They will be s.h.i.+pped off to India out of harm's way, and within a week or two, I fancy, will find themselves at Ahmednuggur.”
The interned pa.s.sengers had left ample s.p.a.ce and a grateful sense of relief and freedom. As the _Blanks.h.i.+re_ throbbed down past ”the Hastings” Shafto and Sophy stood side by side, taking their last look at the Great PaG.o.da, which gave an impression of being swathed in a mantle of dazzling gold, and dominated all its surroundings.
”It seems only the other day we were coming up the river in this very old boat,” he said; ”a year and ten months ago, and how much has happened in that time! Well, we have had strange experiences, seen many places, and made many friends. Here is one of them now,” indicating Mrs. Gregory; ”I expect she feels a bit down, after parting with old George, although he does follow in three months; so do you try to cheer her, while I go below and hurry up the tea.”
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