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Authors: Barbara Cartland
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the Punjab who was known as ‘M-4’, the information he obtained from him might go to a Banker in Peshawar who was ‘R-r9’, or a Moslem employed as an agent in a Rajput state who was ‘N-46’.
Known as ‘The Great Game’, it was one of the most amazing, intricate and exciting phenomena of English rule and Lord Sheldon had worked his way to a position of importance.
He had been taught by his instructors that the slightest mistake, the faintest carelessness, could cause loss of life – which might well include his own.
He was, therefore, naturally alert and also continually suspicious of anything out of the ordinary. Azalea, innocent though she might appear, had eavesdropped in a manner which made him unlikely to dismiss it as negligible.
He was also aware of the source from which her information had come regarding Lord Ronald Gower.
He had himself read the Hong Kong file after receiving his instructions from the Earl of Kimberley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and having had a confidential interview with the Chief of Staff at the War Office.
He had never thought of Sir Frederick Osmund as a talkative man, nor did he seem the type who would discuss official secrets with a girl, even if she was his niece.
It was therefore obvious to Lord Sheldon that, since Azalea had obviously read the Hong Kong file, she had done so without her uncle’s knowledge.
“But why?” he asked himself, “and for what purpose?”
Why, moreover, was her appearance so very un-English, especially in the company of her pink-and-white cousins? He had, in fact, after their encounter at the dinner table, looked forward to probing further into Miss Azalea Osmund’s strange behaviour.
There was, he told himself, plenty of time and, although he expected her not to appear until the ship reached the Mediterranean, he had every intention of pursuing his enquiries further before they reached Hong Kong.
Now, after what the steward had said, Lord Sheldon wondered if he had in fact been somewhat complacent over what was undoubtedly a mystery involving military secrets.
Recalling what he had read in the confidential file on Hong Kong, he did not think there was anything particularly important about the long correspondence from General Donovan, the reports on the military position, the Governor’s unpopularity and the manner in which he had changed the laws.
At the same time, a confidential report was not for outside eyes, and certainly it contained some information which could be utilised by enemy agents.
Lord Sheldon was quite determined to get to the bottom of the problem, but it was not his way when dealing with such affairs to rush in bald-headed without having all the facts he required at his fingertips.
Moreover, he could not believe that Azalea, if she were a spy, was a very effective one.
He had heard the noise she had inadvertently made with her feet on the floor, which was something no one efficient in the art of espionage would have done. There was also, he thought, evidence of inexperience both in her fear when she had come from behind the curtains to find him still in the study and her undoubted panic when she had run away from him after he had kissed her.
Lord Sheldon was not prepared to explain to himself why he had done so. It had been an impulse which on reflection he did not regret.
When he finished luncheon he decided to go down to the Third Class deck to enquire after the wife of a Company Sergeant-Major who was journeying to Hong Kong to be with her husband who had preceded her the week before.
The Sergeant-Major had served with Lord Sheldon in India, and when it had been impossible for his wife to sail with him on the troop ship because she had only just produced a baby, he had called to see his Lordship.
“How did you know I was going to Hong Kong?” Lord Sheldon enquired when the Company Sergeant-Major had arrived from Aldershot at his flat in St. James’s.
“It was in the newspapers, my Lord, and as
Known as ‘The Great Game’, it was one of the most amazing, intricate and exciting phenomena of English rule and Lord Sheldon had worked his way to a position of importance.
He had been taught by his instructors that the slightest mistake, the faintest carelessness, could cause loss of life – which might well include his own.
He was, therefore, naturally alert and also continually suspicious of anything out of the ordinary. Azalea, innocent though she might appear, had eavesdropped in a manner which made him unlikely to dismiss it as negligible.
He was also aware of the source from which her information had come regarding Lord Ronald Gower.
He had himself read the Hong Kong file after receiving his instructions from the Earl of Kimberley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and having had a confidential interview with the Chief of Staff at the War Office.
He had never thought of Sir Frederick Osmund as a talkative man, nor did he seem the type who would discuss official secrets with a girl, even if she was his niece.
It was therefore obvious to Lord Sheldon that, since Azalea had obviously read the Hong Kong file, she had done so without her uncle’s knowledge.
“But why?” he asked himself, “and for what purpose?”
Why, moreover, was her appearance so very un-English, especially in the company of her pink-and-white cousins? He had, in fact, after their encounter at the dinner table, looked forward to probing further into Miss Azalea Osmund’s strange behaviour.
There was, he told himself, plenty of time and, although he expected her not to appear until the ship reached the Mediterranean, he had every intention of pursuing his enquiries further before they reached Hong Kong.
Now, after what the steward had said, Lord Sheldon wondered if he had in fact been somewhat complacent over what was undoubtedly a mystery involving military secrets.
Recalling what he had read in the confidential file on Hong Kong, he did not think there was anything particularly important about the long correspondence from General Donovan, the reports on the military position, the Governor’s unpopularity and the manner in which he had changed the laws.
At the same time, a confidential report was not for outside eyes, and certainly it contained some information which could be utilised by enemy agents.
Lord Sheldon was quite determined to get to the bottom of the problem, but it was not his way when dealing with such affairs to rush in bald-headed without having all the facts he required at his fingertips.
Moreover, he could not believe that Azalea, if she were a spy, was a very effective one.
He had heard the noise she had inadvertently made with her feet on the floor, which was something no one efficient in the art of espionage would have done. There was also, he thought, evidence of inexperience both in her fear when she had come from behind the curtains to find him still in the study and her undoubted panic when she had run away from him after he had kissed her.
Lord Sheldon was not prepared to explain to himself why he had done so. It had been an impulse which on reflection he did not regret.
When he finished luncheon he decided to go down to the Third Class deck to enquire after the wife of a Company Sergeant-Major who was journeying to Hong Kong to be with her husband who had preceded her the week before.
The Sergeant-Major had served with Lord Sheldon in India, and when it had been impossible for his wife to sail with him on the troop ship because she had only just produced a baby, he had called to see his Lordship.
“How did you know I was going to Hong Kong?” Lord Sheldon enquired when the Company Sergeant-Major had arrived from Aldershot at his flat in St. James’s.
“It was in the newspapers, my Lord, and as
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