FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164  
165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   >>   >|  
written from Sumatra?" "Yes; but why so many questions?" "To assure myself that you are really the son of Kadja-sing, and to execute the orders I have received." "From whom?" "From General Simon." "But where is he?" "When I have proof that you are Prince Djalma, I will tell you. I was informed that you would be mounted on a black mare, with a red bridle. But--" "By the soul of my mother! speak what you have to say!" "I will tell you all--if you can tell me what was the printed paper, contained in the last letter that General Simon wrote you from Sumatra." "It was a cutting from a French newspaper." "Did it announce good or bad news for the general?" "Good news--for it related that, during his absence, they had acknowledged the last rank and title bestowed on him by the Emperor, as they had done for others of his brothers in arms, exiled like him." "You are indeed Prince Djalma," said the Smuggler, after a moment's reflection. "I may speak. General Simon landed last night in Java, but on a desert part of the coast." "On a desert part?" "Because he has to hide himself." "Hide himself!" exclaimed Djalma, in amazement; "why?" "That I don't know." "But where is he?" asked Djalma, growing pale with alarm. "He is three leagues hence--near the sea-shore--in the ruins of Tchandi." "Obliged to hide himself!" repeated Djalma, and his countenance expressed increasing surprise and anxiety. "Without being certain, I think it is because of a duel he fought in Sumatra," said the Smuggler, mysteriously. "A duel--with whom?" "I don't know--I am not at all certain on the subject. But do you know the ruins of Tchandi?" "Yes." "The general expects you there; that is what he ordered me to tell you." "So you came with him from Sumatra?" "I was pilot of the little smuggling coaster, that landed him in the night on a lonely beach. He knew that you went every day to the mole, to wait for him; I was almost sure that I should meet you. He gave me details about the letter you received from him as a proof that he had sent me. If he could have found the means of writing, he would have written." "But he did not tell you why he was obliged to hide himself?" "He told me nothing. Certain words made me suspect what I told you--a duel." Knowing the mettle of General Simon, Djalma thought the suspicions of the Smuggler not unfounded. After a moment's silence he said to him: "Can you under
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164  
165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Djalma
 

Sumatra

 

General

 

Smuggler

 

moment

 
general
 
desert
 

landed

 
Tchandi
 

written


received

 

letter

 
Prince
 

subject

 
mysteriously
 

expressed

 
Obliged
 
repeated
 

countenance

 

expects


increasing

 

Without

 

surprise

 

anxiety

 

fought

 

obliged

 

Certain

 

writing

 

silence

 

suspicions


unfounded

 
thought
 

suspect

 

Knowing

 

mettle

 
details
 

coaster

 
lonely
 

smuggling

 
ordered

leagues
 

mother

 
bridle
 
printed
 

French

 

newspaper

 
cutting
 

contained

 
assure
 

questions