The Rajah sat troubled and stern for a few minutes as if irresolute, while the Wazir and other officers whispered together in a way which made Wyatt feel that his life was hanging, as it were, upon a thread.
“It is most painful, and a sorrow to me,” said the Rajah at last, “for I have behaved to this Mr Darrell as if he were my friend.”
“He has come and gone here as he pleased, and my mother has during the past month treated him as if he were a son.”
“He has been as free to go to and from her apartments as I have, and in opposition to the custom of our people, for she has often laughingly said he was but a boy.”
“Well, sir,” said Wyatt sternly, “what has this to do with the disappearance of my brother-officer?”
“This,” said the Rajah fiercely, and with his face full of the anger and disgust he felt: “my mother came to me quite early this morning to make her complaint of the treatment she had received.”
“She has found that her ivory cabinet has been opened, and the whole of her diamonds, emeralds, pearls, and rubies are gone. You know the beautiful jewels she had.”
“Yes,” said Wyatt, “I know. They were magnificent, queenly. Well, sir?”
“Well,” said the Rajah, looking at him wonderingly, “my mother, the Ranee, tells me that Mr Darrell was seen to go to her rooms yesterday, and now he has fled.”
“Oh, I see,” cried Wyatt scornfully; “you mean that my brother-officer, a gentleman—an English gentleman—enjoying your hospitality, trusted by you in every way, has behaved like one of the vilest budmashes of the bazaar.”
“What else can I believe after my mother’s words?” cried the Rajah angrily.
“Bah!” raged out Wyatt; “I’d answer for him with my life. Rajah, shame on you! How can you be such a child?”
There was a roar at this, but the Rajah held up his hand, and turned to Wyatt.
“Then where is he?” he cried. “Why is he not here to answer to this charge?”
“You have been sending for me, sir?” said a familiar voice, and Dick Darrell, who had entered in the confusion unobserved, let fall the heavy curtain he had drawn aside, and stepped forward to his brother-officer’s side.
“Hah! Dick, lad,” whispered Wyatt, grasping his hand, “never more welcome than now. Not hurt?”
“Out. I’ll tell you soon, but his highness wants me.”