Page:Harold Lamb--The House of the Falcon.djvu/70

 Rawul Singh shook his head.

"This is the message, my mem-sahib. The major begs the mem-sahib to come to the bungalow. There your father waits. He has come in a tonga, and he asks for you."

Placidly, the orderly met the glance of Monsey. Both men waited for the response of the girl. Edith had a swift impulse of alarm. Why had not the major and Arthur Rand come to the palace? Why had they delayed in summoning her? And why had not Fraser-Carnie come for her in person?

The uncertainty passed quickly. Her father was tired after the journey. He had never cared for entertainments. Fraser-Carnie had remained at the bungalow to keep his guest company until she should come. That was it.

"My father is well?"

Anxious to be reassured, she asked the question of Rawul Singh, forgetting that the orderly had not left the palace.

"Mem-sahib, I do not know. I have not seen him." Of course! She ran to where she had left her scarf and snatched it up, anxious only to be gone. There was no reason for her to be alarmed on behalf of Arthur Rand. But, womanlike, she wanted to assure herself of that at once. She did not even wait to speak to her aunt.

It was a slight matter. But this eagerness of Edith to see her father, and her failure to tell Miss Rand, had in reality an important bearing on what followed. With the scarf in her possession, she was turning back from the balcony when Monsey confronted her.

"Your promise?" he inquired evenly. "You must finish your dance with me. Rawul Singh can wait."