David Leslie (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...some trace of violence left about the hut. To whom, then, had she fled? To Surfuraz Khan? No; he, a native surbordinate--impossible. Then could it be? Yes, it was--it must have been to Freeman. During his illness, Freeman had been days and days alone in the bungalow, whilst Leslie was away touring about in the district. That very morning his assistant had absented himself from cwtcherry. What was Leslie to do? He could not search the suspected man's house. No, there must be no public scandal; and even if she were found in the bungalow compound, what could he do? She had gone there of her own free wilL Were he to tax Freeman with treachery, the man would laugh at him and scorn him with his grinning handsome face. Such were Leslie's thoughts. He was in an agony of doubt, and felt utterly miserable. If his brain fed on itself much longer he felt he would go mad, and do something devilish. Ah there was the brandybottle--he would try that. He poured himself out a stiff soda-and-brandy, and drank it off; then another, and then a third, but this time he only used half a bottle of soda. He felt better now, but still his brain was in a whirl. He took up his revolver and played with it, cocking it and uncocking it, and listening to the click with a madman's delight. He put its cold muzzle to his throbbing temple; there was but an instant between him and eternity. What if he drew the trigger? what a commotion there would be "But then," protested Reason, "what a brainless idiot people would call you, as you would lie here with all your brains scattered about " He threw the horrid weapon down, shuddering; and then he picked it up again, and locked it by in a drawer, and opening the door, chucked the key out. Thank God, he had escaped a great peril ...