Part 16 (2/2)
Captain Barlow read to Ajeet the pardon, which was the form adopted by the British government to be issued to certain thugs and decoits who became spies, called Approvers, for the British.
”You, Ajeet Singh, are promised exemption from the punishment of death and transportation beyond seas for all past offences, and such reasonable indulgence as your services may seem to merit, and may be compatible with your safe custody on condition:--1st, that you make full confession of all the decoities in which you have been engaged; 2nd, that you mention truly the names of all your a.s.sociates in these crimes, and a.s.sist to the utmost of your power in their arrest and conviction. If you act contrary to these conditions--conceal any of the circ.u.mstances of the decoities in which you have been engaged--screen any of your friends--attempt to escape--or accuse any innocent person--you shall be considered to have forfeited thereby all claims to such exemption and indulgence.”
When the Captain had finished interpreting this the Resident pa.s.sed it to the decoit, saying: ”This will protect you from the British. You are now bound to the British; and I want you to bring me any papers that may have been found upon the two soldiers. Bring here this woman, the Gulab, if you can find her. Go now.”
When Ajeet, with a deep salaam, had gone from the room Hodson threw himself back in his chair wearily and sighed. Then he said: ”A woman!
the jamadar was lying--all that stuff about Nana Sahib. There's been some deviltry; they've used this woman to trap the messengers; that's India. It's the papers they were after; they must have known they were coming; and they've hidden the woman. We've got to lay hands upon her, Captain--she's the key-note.”
CHAPTER XV
Barlow had waited until the decoit would have gone before showing the papers that were in his pocket because it was an advantage that the enemy should think them lost. He was checked now as he put a hand in his pocket to produce them by the entrance of Elizabeth, and he fancied there was a sneer on her thin lips.
”Father,” she said, as she leaned against the desk, one hand on its teak-wood top, ”I've been listening to the handsome leader of thieves; I couldn't help hearing him. I fancy that Captain Barlow could tell you just where this woman, the Gulab, who is as beautiful as the moon, is. I'm sure he could bring her here--if he _would_.”
The Captain's fingers unclasped from the papers in his pocket, and now were beating a tattoo on his knee.
”Elizabeth!” the father gasped, ”do you know what you are saying?” His cold grey eyes were wide with astonishment. ”Did you hear all of Ajeet Singh's story?”
”Yes, all of it.”
”It's your friend, Nana Sahib, whom you treat as if he were an Englishman and to be trusted, that knows where this woman is, Elizabeth.”
A cynical laugh issued from the girl's lips that were so like her father's in their unsympathetic contour: ”Yes, one may trust men, but a woman's eyes are given her to prevent disaster from this trust which is so natural to the deceivable s.e.x.”
”Elizabeth! you do not know what you are saying--what the inference would be.”
”Ask Captain Barlow if he doesn't know all about the Gulab's movements.”
The Resident pushed irritably some papers on his desk, and turning in his chair, asked, ”Can you explain this, Captain--what it is all about?”
There were ripples of low temperature chilling the base of Barlow's skull. ”I can't explain it--it's beyond me,” he answered doggedly.
The girl turned upon him with ferocity. ”Don't lie, Captain Barlow; a British officer does not lie to his superior.”
”Hush, Beth,” the father pleaded.
”Don't you know, Captain Barlow,” the girl demanded, ”that this woman, the Gulab, is one who uses her beauty to betray men, even Sahibs?”
”No, I don't know that, Miss Hodson. I saw her dance at Nana Sahib's and I've heard Ajeet's statement. I don't know anything evil of the girl, and I don't believe it.”
”A man's sense of honour where a woman is concerned--lie to protect her. I have no illusions about the Sahibs in India,” she continued, in a tone that was devilish in its cynicism, ”but I did think that a British officer would put his duty to his King above the s.h.i.+elding of a _nautch_ girl.”
”Elizabeth!” Hodson rose and put a hand upon the girl's arm; ”do you realise that you are doing a dreadful thing--that you are impeaching Captain Barlow's honour as a soldier?”
<script>