Gilpin observer., 1911-09-14
CHAPTER VII.
Maaka and Faoss.

Masks and Faces.
Like many wiser and better
man, Amber was able upon occasion
to change his mind without entertain
ing serious misgivings as to his sta
bility Of purpose. Therefore, on SEQ
ond thought, he elected to journey
Indiawards via the suss canal rather
than by the western route. Rutton's
instructions had been explicit upon
one point: Amber was to enter India
only BY the port OF Calcutta. In de-
ferring to this the Virginian lost sew
eral days waiting in London for the
fortnightly P. & o. boat for Calcutta:
delay which might have been OBJ
Waited by taking the overland routs
to Brindisi. connecting there with the
weekly P. & o. boat for Bombay,
from which latter point Calcutta could
have been quickly reached by rail
across the Indian peninsula
Now Quain's letter to Labsrtouchs
went BY this quicker route and SO an
iticipatsd Amber's arrival at the CAPT
tai Of India by about q week: during
all Of which time 1t languishsd un-
read
A nice young English boy in Mr..
iLAbertouche's employ received and
stamped 1t with the date Of delivery
and put 1t away with the rest Of the
incoming correspondence in . sub
stantial-lool1ing safe. After which he
returned to his desk IN the ants-room
and resumed his study Of the law;
which he pursued comfortably enough
with . cigarette In his mouth, his
chair tilted back. and his feet gently
but firmly implanted upon the fair
printed pages Of an opsn volume of
Blackstone. His odlcih duties, other
Wise. seemed to consist solely In i'm
parting to all and sundry the informa-
ton that Mr.. LAbsrtouche was some
whore up in the Mofussil. hunting
bugs-I don't know exactly where"
Precisely why Mr.. IAbertouchs
maintained his once was q matter for
casual conjecture to his wide circle Of
acquaintaAces; although it's not un-
likeiy that. were he the subject Of dis.
cussion. the bulk OF the wonder ex.
pressed would be inspired by his un.
reasonable preference for Calcutta ~
place Of residence.
Now upon the morning OF the day
tAAA found the steamship Poonah nux.
zling up the Hooghly's dirty yellow
nood. Mr.. LAbertouchs's olerk arrived
at the DhurrumtollAh street once at
the usual hour; which. in the absence
~ ken AunulrvAr -. ~>n>x~,a- -
tween II o'clock and noon. Havins
assorted and disposed Of the morn.
inS's mall. he donnsd his once coat.
sat down. thumbed through Black.
stone until he found two perfectly
clean pages. opened the volume at that
place. tipped back his chair, and with
svssy indication Of an untroublsd CON.
science imposed his feet upon the
book and began the days iabors with
. cigarette.
Presently he became aware that
An especially dirty and travsl.worn
Attit msndicant had squattsd down
across the way. In the full glare Of
sunlight. and was composing himself
Tor one Of those apparently purpose.
lees and interminable vigils peculiar
70 his vocation. Beneath their droop-
ing lashes the eyes Of the clerk
frightened. But he did not move
Neither did the Attit msndicant
In the course Of the next half-hour
the clerk consumed two cigarettes
and entertained . visitor In the per.
son of . dapper little Greek curio-
dealer from the Lal basar. who left
behind him an invitation to Mr.. La,
bertouche to call and inspect some
soarabs In which he had professsd
an interest. II was quite q fresh I'm.
portation. avsrrsd the Greek: the
clerk was to be careful to remember
that.
When he had gone the clerk made
a note Of Il. Then. glancing out OF
the window. he became aware that
the Attit msndicant. for some reason
dissatisfied. was preparing TO move
ON. Yawning. the clerk resumed his
street coat, and went out to lunch,
rarslsssly leaving the door unlocked.
and the memorandum Of the Greeks
invitation exposed upon bis blottsr.
When he returned ct three O'Clock,
the door Of Mr.. LAbertouche's private
oflcs was ajar and that gentleman
WAS at his desk. The memorandum
mas. however, gone.
Mr.. Labsrtouche WAS IN The pro