" There was a distinct note
of reproach in his voice, though he looked at no one.
Mrs. Cary sat down in her seat. It was a pitiful and almost terrible
sight to see her, all the florid, vulgar ostentation and sleek content
dashed out of her, leaving her with pasty cheeks and horror-stricken,
staring eyes to face the ruined future. Mrs. Berry burst into
ever-ready tears.
"Oh!" she sobbed. "What will my husband say! I told him it was such a
good thing--it isn't my fault. What will he say!"
The sharp, wailing tones broke through Mrs. Cary's momentary
paralysis. She sat up and brought her fat clenched fist down with a
bang upon the table.
"You!" she half screamed at the Rajah. "You--you black swindler--you
thief--it's you who have done it--you who have ruined us all with your
wicked schemes. You baited us with this clubhouse--you pretended you
wanted to do us such a lot of good, didn't you? And all the time you
meant to feather your own nest with diamonds and the Lord knows what.
Give us back our money, you heathen swindler! For you aren't a
Christian! You pretended that, too, just as a blind--"
Her flow of frightful coarse invectives came to an abrupt end. Colonel
Carmichael, who knew now why his presence had been required, leaned
forward and pushed her firmly down in her seat.
"For Heaven's sake, Mrs. Cary, hold your tongue!" he expostulated, in
a rapid, emphatic undertone. "You don't know what you are saying.
Pages:
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271