第71章

EDITH'S ADVENTURES

It was a long time before the two lovers were sufficiently composed to explain to each other fully the almost fabulous events that had lately occurred.

Heideck, of course, wanted to know, first of all, how Edith had contrived to escape without making a disturbance and calling for the aid of those about her.What she told him was the most touching proof of her affection for him.The Maharajah's creatures must have heard, somehow or other, of Heideck's imprisonment and condemnation, and they had reckoned correctly on Edith's attachment to the man who had saved her life.

She had been told that a single word from the Maharajah would be sufficient to destroy the foolhardy German, and that her only hope of saving him from death lay in a personal appeal to His Highness's clemency.Although she knew perfectly well the shameful purpose this suggestion concealed, she had not hesitated, in her anxiety for her dear one's safety, to follow the men who promised to conduct her to the Maharajah, full of hypocritical assurances that she would come to no harm.She had had so many proofs of the revengeful cruelty of this Indian despot that she feared the worst for Heideck, and resolved, in the last extremity, to sacrifice her life--if she could not preserve her honour--to save him.

The Maharajah had received her with great courtesy and promised to use his influence in favour of the German who had been seized as a spy and traitor by the Russians.But he had at the same time thrown out fairly broad hints what his price would be, and, from the moment she had delivered herself into his hands, he had treated her as a prisoner, although with great respect.All communication, except with persons of the Maharajah's household, was completely cut off; and she was under no delusion as to the lot which awaited her, as soon as the Prince again felt himself completely secure in some mountain fastness unaffected by the events of the war.

Feeling certain of this, she had continually contemplated the idea of flight; but the fear of sealing the fate of her unhappy friend, even more than the ever-watchful suspicion of her guards, had prevented her from making the attempt.

Her joy had been all the greater when, the same evening, Morar Gopal appeared in the women's tent with the Circassian, to relieve her from the almost unendurable tortures of uncertainty as to Heideck's fate.

The cunning Hindu had managed to gain access to the carefully guarded prisoners for himself and his companion by pretending that the Maharajah had chosen the Circassian girl to be the English lady's servant.He had whispered a few words to Edith, telling her what was necessary for her to know for the moment.

After he had retired, it roused no suspicion when she asked to be left alone for a few moments with the new servant.With her assistance, she made use of the opportunity to put on the light Indian man's clothes which the Circassian had brought with her in a parcel.The guards, who were by this time intoxicated, had allowed the slender young rajah, into whom she had transformed herself, to depart unmolested, and Morar Gopal, who was waiting for her at a place agreed upon close at hand, had conducted her to Heideck's tent, where she might, for the moment at least, consider herself to be safe.

"But Georgi?" asked the Captain with some anxiety."She remained in the women's tent? What will happen to her when her share in your flight is discovered?""The idea also tormented me.But the heroic girl repeatedly assured me that she would find a way to escape, and that in any case she would have nothing to fear, as soon as she appealed to Prince Tchajawadse.""That may be so; but that hardly agrees with her wish to keep the fact of her presence in the camp a secret from the Prince.The girl's behaviour is a complete riddle to me.I do not understand what can have induced her to sacrifice herself with such wonderful unselfishness for us, who are really only strangers to her, in whom she can feel no interest.Certainly she was not actuated by any thought of a reward.She has the pride of her race, and I am certain that she would consider any offer of one as an insult.""I think the same.But perhaps I can guess her real motives.""And won't you tell me what you think?"

Edith hesitated a little; but she was not one of those women who allow any petty emotion to master them.

"I think, my friend, that she loves you," she said, with a slight, enchanting smile."Some unguarded expressions and the fire that kindled in her eyes as soon as we mentioned your name, made me feel almost certain of it.The fact that, notwithstanding, she helped to set me free, is certainly, in the circumstances, only a stronger proof of her magnanimity.But I understand it perfectly.A woman in love, if of noble character, is capable of any act of self-denial."

Heideck shook his head.

"I think your shrewdness has played you false on this occasion.Iam firmly convinced that she is Prince Tchajawadse's mistress, and, from all I have seen of their relations, it seems to me inconceivable that she would be unfaithful to him for the sake of a stranger, with whom she has only interchanged a few casual words.""Well, perhaps we may have an opportunity of settling whether I am wrong or not.But now, my friend, I should first of all like to know what you have decided about me."Heideck was in some embarrassment how to answer, and spoke hesitatingly of his intention to send her to Ambala with Morar Gopal.But Edith would not allow him to finish.She interrupted him with a decided gesture of dissent.