"Let me pass, you men; I will not be kept here."
But the natives did not budge from their post. Only, as the angry lady
flung open one of the folding doors, they closed together and barred the
way with their pikes. Accustomed to absolute subservience from her own
peons, Mrs. Merriman saw at once that insistence was useless. If these
men did not obey instantly they would not obey at all.
"I cannot fight them," she said, again turning back. "The wretches! If
only your father were here!"
"Or Mr. Burke," said Phyllis. "Oh, how I wish he had come with us!"
"Wishing is no use, my dear. I vow the Frenchman shall pay dearly for
this insolence. We must make the best of it."
Meanwhile Monsieur de Bonnefon had gone down to the ghat. But he did not
send a messenger to Chandernagore as he had promised. He told the
jamadar, in Urdu, that his mistress and the chota bibi would remain at
his house for the night. They feared another accident if they should
proceed in the darkness. He bade the man bring his party to the house,
where they would all find accommodation until the morning.
In the small hours of that night there was a short sharp scuffle in the
servants' quarters. The Merriman boatmen and peons were set upon by a
score of sturdy men who promptly roped them together, and, hauling them
down to the ghat and into a boat, rowed them up to Hugli. There they were
thrown into the common prison.
In the morning a charge of dacoity {gang robbery} was laid against them.
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