Part 10 (1/2)
”I see you're a judge of a cigar,” said King, and Saunders purred, allto demonstrate the fact
They had started for the station entrance when a nasal voice began intoning, ”Cap-teen King sahib-Cap-teen King sahib!” and a telegraphwhistled hiraures in pencil across the top Then he decoded swiftly,
”Advices are Yas Fail to understand your inability to get in touch Have you tried at her house? Matters in Khyber district much less satisfactory Word fro
Better sweep up in Delhi and proceed northward as quickly as compatible with caution L M L”
The three letters at the end were the general's coded signature The wording of the telegraeneral's bald red skull and could almost hear him say the ”fail to understand” The three words ”much less satisfactory” were a bookful of inforraures from the top and burned it with a match, he was at pains to look pleased
”Good news?” asked Saunders, blowing sh his nose
”Excellent Where's iant came and towered above him
”You swore she went North!”
”Ha, sahib! To Peshawur she went!”
”Did she start from this station?”
”From where else, sahib?”
But this was too much for Saunders, who stepped forward and thrust in an oar King on the other band stepped back a pace so as to watch both faces
”Then, when did she go?”
”I saw her go!” said Ismail, affronted
”When? When, confound you! When?”
”Yesterday”
”I expect he e of looker-on and a very deep experience of Northerners, he had noted that Ish bothart
”I have a telegram here,” he said, ”that says she is in Delhi!”
He patted his coat, where the inner pocket bulged
”Nay, then the tar lies, for I saw her go with these two eyes ofassured hi truth
”If I lie may I eat dirt!” Isnity, but dignity has often been used as a stalking horse for untruth King nodded, and it was not possible to judge by his expression whether he believed or not