THE GARDEN OF HEART'S DELIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13202, 13 June 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN OF HEART'S DELIGHT.

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

BY LOUIS TRACY, Author of " Tile Final War," " Rainbow Island," "The Albert, Gate .Affair, etc., etc., etc [COrYKIGIIT.I Somehow, when the rays of the lantern revealed his features, Mowbray thought he knew the man. Suddenly recollection, came. This was the palace servant who warned him and Roger against Jaihangir s malice 011 the day of the wild beast combats.

But whatever form Mowbray's' questions might have taken all such speculations were driven from his brain, and he released the bhisti •in blank amazement, when a wellremembered voice murmured sweetly :

"Harm him not, Walter. He is a humble well-wisher who escorted me hither."

It was Nur Mahal who spoke. Never before had she addressed him by his Christian name, the sound of which she must 'have "learnt owing to Roger's frequent use of it. Clearly, she bad acquired its facile pronunciation by much private endeavour, for his own mother could not have uttered the word more accurately. And what was lie to say or do? Though it was always a likely thing that Nur Mahal, knowing lie was in Agra, would ; endeavofir to reach "him, uow that sh® was actually here how should he shape his course 'to avoid the convictions sure to result if her visit came to •Jahangir's ears? It is not to be 'wondered at if his brain !whirled "with jostling thoughts, nor that iher presence should obscure for the nonce Jtli vital importance of ascertaining the significance of those passwords, whose mere choice showed that they represented the rival factions of Mahommedans and Hindus.' "I see that you are not to bo taken by surprise, let those plan who will," she whispered, and she laughed musically, with a certain frolicsome lightness long absent from her •"manner,. Was the winsome maid of the Garden -of Heart's Delight reborn, amidst the sorrows which encompassed her? Was her rapid descent from high estate the memos of her regeneration, seeing that content oft arrives by the door through which ambition departs? Who could tell Certainly not Mowbray, to whose already grievous load of cares her presence added i 110 inconsiderable charge. But if the man were Hurried 1 , the woman was not. She threw back her veil, being ever disdainful of the oi'dinamee that women of rank and beauty should hide their faces from the common ken.

"Thank you. good fellow," she said to the bhisti." "Get you back to the fort speedily, and remember that those who serve ine without words shall, be paid ten. times more than those who talk. Ah!" she continued, turning to the wondering Rajputs, who, of course, recognised her as soon as the light illumined her aitiimated features, ".Jai Singh told me you were faithful to your salt. It- could not be otherwise with men from R-ajputant, yet such fidelity is worthy of reward. It shall not be long delayed." The coarse linen sari of (he water-carrier's wife had fallen from her head and shoulders, and even the flickering glimmer of the oil lamp revealed the fact that Nur Mahal was attired with uncommon splendour. She not only looked but spoke like a queen, and Iter way of addressing the poor retainers at the gate was as. gracious and dignified as if they were Court nobles. " Have you brought no other retinue'.'" asked Walter, at a loss- for a more pertinent question before so many inquisitive ears. She laughed again, and the silvery note of her mirth was pleasant if disconcerting. " All in good time," she said ; " let us go to the house, but first inquire, if you 1 .'•! not know, who have preceded me. Then I shall tell you who will come after." Amidst the chaos of his ideas Mowbray was conscious that Nur Mahal was rendering him one invaluable service. She brought with her certainty when all was void. Her words, her air, betokened a fixed purpose. For all he knew he might bo a pawn or a castle in the game is ho was playing, but, until : lie was further enlightened, it was.advisable to move as she directed. Then, being a free agent, he might become erratic. ; The doorkeeper, brought to the domain of dry figures, whittled down his earlier statement as 1 -; to- the ;J number -of strange visitors he had admitted. There were two Mahommedans, using the significant .countersign, "Death Watch," • whilst no less j -than eight' Hindus, excluding Nur Mahal I (herself a Mahommedan), were of the "VicI tory" party. He knew none. His orI ders were from the Grand Vizier.

Whither have they gone? Are they secreted in" the house?" demanded Mowbray. "Enough said," was Nur Mahal's laconic interruption. " Come with me. I will explain." ' She led him ; nto the avenue of cedars. When he would have spoken she caught hi.;' arm. v"" '

"Not here!" she whispered." ".I am told you . are lodged in "the Peacock Room. Let us converse there in privacy." " You kiio>-- «o much," he murmured, "that perchait .<? you can tell me" what has befallen Roger Sainton?" r ' : She stopped. , " Why did he leave you?" she asked. "He.went to rescue one whom he pjomisd not to abandon. My fear of intrigue led him to bring the lady here ere it was too late." . - "To bring a womanhere "Why not? If one woman, why not another?"

"Come!" she urged. "We are at cross purposes, but I have 110 information as .to Sainton-sahib. I had hoped he was with you, for lie is worth a thousand. . Silence new 1" •

His feet, crunched the gravel of the path, vet he disdained to walk stealthily. Nur Mahal's tiny slippers made no noise. She moved by is side with swift grace, and when lie would have made a detour led

him to the main, entrance, paying no heed to .'..those of the house servants stationed at the door, though they stared as if she were a ghost. It may be that some among 'them were aware of her identity, but in asy case the apparition of such a, woman, unveiled, in the company of a foreigner, was sufficiently remarkable in India, to create unbounded astonishment. .

She swept on through the building, casting aside the cumbersome sari as if its purpose of concealment were at an end. The few lamps which lit the inner rooms were scattered and dim. but Mowbray could see that his first impression as to the magnificence of her garments was not a,mistaken one. She had yielded so far to convention, being a, widow, as to wear a purple dress, but the bodice of white silk was fringed with silver, an exquisite shawl draped her shoulders, in diaphanous folds, diamonds gleamed in her hair, and her rapid movements showed that- her silk stockings were shot with, silver. A strange garb, truly, for one who, according to Jai Singh, lived on a pittance of one rupee a day, and 'even more noteworthy when the manner and hour of her visit to Dilkusha were taken into account.

When she entered the Peacock Room j she found Era Pietro kneeling, with his face sunk in his hands, near to the charpoy, or roughly-contrived' bedstead, which, like all Europeans, he preferred, to the cushions of the East. Walter had quitted the room by another door, so the worthy Franciscan's speelbmnul look when he raised his eyes to learn; who it was who came from the interior of the house and saw the radiant figure of Nur Mahal would surely, under other , circumstances, have, brought a laugh to Walter's lips. The friar, wishing to read some portion of the daily. " office," had obtained four lamps and trimmed them with some car-e. Comparatively speaking, there was a flood of light at his end of the spacious chamber, and tho obscurity reigning in the further part only added to the bewildering effect of the sylph-like being who, after advancing a little way, stood and gazed •st him -irresolutely. ■ , But Mowbray's firm tread broke the spell against which Fra Pietro was already fortifying himself' by fervent ejaculations. A prophet surprised by the fulfilment of his own prophecy he rose to his feet, and bowed with the ready politeness of his race. . ■ 7,

Princess," he said, speaking Urdu with slow precision, " I greet you! . None but you can resolve our perplexities. You are. indeed, welcome!" The aspect of the friar, with the shaven crown, tin trimmed beard, coarse brown robe and hood, white cords and rough sandals of St. Francis d'Assisi, was no less astounding to Nur Mahal, than was her regal semblance to him. In her eyes lie was on a parity with tire fakirs, the mullahs, the religious mendicants of her adopted country. The few Europeans she had seen -were soldiers, merchants, or dignified ecclesiastics of the Jesuit order, but here was one- whose poverty-stricken appearance might well have prejudiced her against him. Like life' Apostle whose name lie bore. Fra Pietro had said : , " Lo, we have left, all and followed Thee." Of such renunciatory .gospel Nur Mahal had no cognisance. (To be continued 011 Saturday next.) .