Rose of the world

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. 1905 Excerpt: ...the officer's tongue. The flowing guttural which replied was in marked contrast: 'I have heard it said,' answered the secretary, without moving a muscle of his countenance, 'that the pen is mightier than the sword.' A sneer, aimed at the Lieutenant-Governor's literary aspirations trembled on Bethune's lips, but he prudently suppressed it. 'You cannot deceive me, friend,' cried he abruptly then; 'you have flown with the birds of battle and heard the cannon roar, and thought the smell of the powder sweet.' Again the Pathan smiled; and Bethune, watching him, was stirred, he knew not why, as by a glimpse of something at once immeasurably fierce and immeasurably sad. 'Sir,' said Muhammed, in slow deliberate English, ' I have seen many things; and no man knows where his fate leads him.' 'Oh, no doubt!' said Bethune, laughing not very pleasantly. He was irritated with the fellow's impenetrability and his own inability to deal with it. 'And so fate has brought you to a wealthy master,' said he tauntingly, 'and you think that this scribbling business will prove worth your while. 'Tis certainly an odd job for a Pathan!... I trust well paid?' 'I sought the post, sir,' said Muhammed. 'My master, since he is to be called my master,'--a sudden fire leaped and died in his eyes,--' will no doubt pay me what he owes me. When I come into my own country again, it may be I shall have found it worth my while.' To this the officer made no reply. After a second's pause Muhammed lifted his hand to his brow once more and moved away on the noiseless turf. Bethune turned to watch the swing of the strange figure through the trees. Greed for money, and wily determination to get to lucrative posts in life--ambition to play the European--or--what? No motive that his sober common sense co...