That is why
I wish to speak before your uncle goes in to dinner."
Isobel sat down with an air of indifference.
"For the last week, Major, I have ridden every day five and twenty
to thirty miles in the direction of Cawnpore; my official work has
been practically at an end since we heard the news from Meerut.
I could be of no use here, and thought that I could do no better
service than trying to obtain the earliest news from Cawnpore; I
am sorry to say that this afternoon I distinctly heard firing in
that direction. What the result is, of course, I do not know, but
I feel that there is little doubt that troubles have begun there.
But this is not all. On my return home, ten minutes ago, I found
this letter on my dressing table. It had no direction and is, as
you see, in Hindustanee," and he handed it to the Major, who read:
"To the Sahib Bathurst,--Rising at Cawnpore today. Nana Sahib and
his troops will join the Sepoys. Whites will be destroyed. Rising
at Deennugghur at daylight tomorrow. Troops, after killing whites,
will join those at Cawnpore. Be warned in time--this tiger is
not to be beaten off with a whip."
"Good Heavens!" the Major exclaimed; "can this be true? Can it be
possible that the Rajah of Bithoor is going to join the mutineers?
It is impossible; he could never be such a scoundrel."
"What is it, uncle?" Isobel asked, leaving her seat and coming up
to him.
The Major translated the letter.
"It must be a hoax," he went on; "I cannot believe it.
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