The Coming Conquest of England [58]
thin, cool fingers with a beseeching look, the meaning of which he full well understood. "The Commander-in-Chief and his staff reached the railway station," she continued; "they travelled to Delhi with the last train that left Lahore, just at the eleventh hour; for immediately afterwards the Russians entered the town. The wreck of the army is now marching to Delhi, but their pursuers are close at their heels. God alone knows what will be the fate of our poor defeated army." He did not ask her where she had obtained all this information; but that it was quite correct he was firmly convinced, judging by his own experience. He did not know what to say to her to encourage her, he who never had been able to toy with empty phrases. A short while they remained silent, and their eyes simultaneously fell upon the sunlit marble tomb before them. "Have you seen this cenotaph before?" the young lady suddenly asked, to Heideck's surprise. On his answering in the negative, she went on-- "This is the famous tomb of Anar Kali, the beloved wife of Sultan Akbar, who, on account of her beauty, was given the name of 'Pomegranate Blossom.' She probably departed this life in the same way that we should have done if the daggers of the murderers yesterday had reached us. She, perhaps, was just as little conscious of what was happening to her, as we should have been in this past night." "Can you read the inscription?" asked Heideck. "No, but I have had it interpreted to me; for it is one of the most famous inscriptions in India. The beautiful Anar Kali was once so foolish as to smile when the son of her lord and master entered the harem. And in the selfsame hour the jealous sultan had the unhappy woman executed. But he must have loved her very dearly, for he erected to her this beautiful memorial, which should hand down to generations yet unborn the name of Anar Kali. So full of insoluble riddles is the poor, foolish heart of man." Jingling footsteps were heard on the flagstones outside, and the next moment an officer appeared at the door accompanied by several soldiers. In abrupt, peremptory tones he ordered Heideck to follow him. Now, for the first time, the Captain saw in Edith Irwin's face something like an expression of terror. "What is the meaning of this?" She turned hastily to the Russian. "This gentleman is not an Englishman." The Russian did not understand the question in English; but when Heideck asked in Russian what they were about to do with him, he replied, shrugging his shoulders-- "I do not know. Follow me." "They only want me to prove my identity," said Heideck composedly, in order to calm the young lady. "I hope that they will let me free after examining my passports." "Certainly they must let you go!" she cried, almost passionately. "It would be against all the laws of nations if they were to do you any harm. But how shall I endure the uncertainty as to your fate?" "I shall come back here at once, as soon as it is possible for me to do so." "Yes, yes! I beseech you, do not leave me a second longer than you are obliged. I have not as yet had time to thank you." The Russian officer showed such manifest signs of impatience that Heideck no longer hesitated to follow him. The way that he had to go was not long. He was taken to a house close by, over whose gate the words "School of Arts" were sculptured in the stone. He had only to wait a short while in the hall, when before him there opened the door of a room on the ground floor, adorned with sculptures, in which a number of officers sat at a long table. To Heideck it was at once clear that he was to be tried before a court-martial. A few very downcast-looking men had just been led out. The officer who presided turned over the papers which lay before him, and then, casting a sharp look at Heideck, spoke a few words with his comrades. "Who are you?" he asked in English, with a decided Russian accent, which was difficult to understand. Heideck, who also spoke in English, answered shortly and clearly, and laid his passport, which he always carried in the breast-pocket