English
AtdinnerthateveningImentionedtomyfathertheepisodeofthethreeBuddhistpriests,andfound,asIhadexpected,thathewasverymuchinterestedbymyaccountofthem.
When,however,heheardofthehighmannerinwhichRamSinghhadspokenofhim,andthedistinguishedpositionwhichhehadassignedhimamongphilologists,hebecamesoexcitedthatitwasallwecoulddotopreventhimfromsettingoffthenandtheretomakehisacquaintance.
EstherandIwererelievedandgladwhenweatlastsucceededinabstractinghisbootsandmaneuveringhimtohisbedroom,fortheexcitingeventsofthelasttwenty-fourhourshadbeentoomuchforhisweakframeanddelicatenerves.
Iwassiltingattheopenporchinthegloaming,turningoverinmymindtheunexpectedeventswhichhadoccurredsorapidly—thegale,thewreck,therescue,andthestrangecharacterofthecastaways—whenmysistercamequietlyovertomeandputherhandinmine.
“Don’tyouthink,Jack.”shesaid,inherlow,sweetvoice,“thatweareforgettingourfriendsoveratCloomber?Hasn’tallthisexcitementdriventheirfearsandtheirdangeroutofourheads?”
“Outofourheads,butneveroutofourhearts,”saidI,laughing.
“However,youareright,littleone,forourattentionhascertainlybeendistractedfromthem.
IshallwalkupinthemorningandseeifIcanseeanythingofthem.
Bytheway,to-morrowisthefateful5thofOctober—onemoreday,andallwillbewellwithus.”
“Orill,”saidmysistergloomily.
“Why,whatalittlecroakeryouare,tobesure!”Icried.“Whatintheworldiscomingoveryou?”
“Ifeelnervousandlow-spirited,”sheanswered,drawingclosertomysideandshivering.
“Ifeelasifsomegreatperilwerehangingovertheheadsofthosewelove.
Whyshouldthesestrangemenwishtostayuponthecoast?”
“What,theBuddhists?”Isaidlightly.“Oh,thesefellowshavecontinualfeast-daysandreligiousritesofallsorts.Theyhavesomeverygoodreasonforstaying,youmaybesure.”
“Don’tyouthink,”saidEsther,inanawe-struckwhisper,“thatitisverystrangethatthesepriestsshouldarrivehereallthewayfromIndiajustatthepresentmoment?
Haveyounotgatheredfromallyouhaveheardthatthegeneral’sfearsareinsomewayconnectedwithIndiaandtheIndians?”
Theremarkmademethoughtful.
“Why,nowthatyoumentionit,”Ianswered,“Ihavesomevagueimpressionthatthemysteryisconnectedwithsomeincidentwhichoccurredinthatcountry.
Iamsure,however,thatyourfearswouldvanishifyousawRamSingh.
Heistheverypersonificationofwisdomandbenevolence.
Hewasshockedattheideaofourkillingasheep,orevenafishforhisbenefit—saidhewouldratherdiethanhaveahandintakingthelifeofananimal.”
“Itisveryfoolishofmetobesonervous,”saidmysisterbravely.
“Butyoumustpromisemeonething,Jack.
YouwillgouptoCloomberinthemorning,andifyoucanseeanyofthemyoumusttellthemofthesestrangeneighboursofours.
Theyarebetterabletojudgethanwearewhethertheirpresencehasanysignificanceornot.”
“Allright,littleone,”Ianswered,aswewentindoors.
“Youhavebeenover-excitedbyallthesewilddoings,andyouneedasoundnight’sresttocomposeyou.
I’lldowhatyousuggest,however,andourfriendsshalljudgeforthemselveswhetherthesepoorfellowsshouldbesentabouttheirbusinessornot.”
Imadethepromisetoallaymysister’sapprehensions,butinthebrightsunlightofmorningitappearedlessthanabsurdtoimaginethatourpoorvegetariancastawayscouldhaveanysinisterintentions,orthattheiradventcouldhaveanyeffectuponthetenantofCloomber.
Iwasanxious,myself,however,toseewhetherIcouldseeanythingoftheHeatherstones,soafterbreakfastIwalkeduptotheHall.
Intheirseclusionitwasimpossibleforthemtohavelearntanythingoftherecentevents.
Ifelt,therefore,thatevenifIshouldmeetthegeneralhecouldhardlyregardmeasanintruderwhileIhadsomuchnewstocommunicate.
Theplacehadthesamedrearyandmelancholyappearancewhichalwayscharacterizedit.
Lookingthroughbetweenthethickironbarsofthemaingatewaytherewasnothingtobeseenofanyoftheoccupants.
OneofthegreatScotchfirshadbeenblowndowninthegale,anditslong,ruddytrunklayrightacrossthegrass-grownavenue;butnoattempthadbeenmadetoremoveit.
Everythingaboutthepropertyhadthesameairofdesolationandneglect,withthesolitaryexceptionofthemassiveandimpenetrablefencing,whichpresentedasunbrokenandformidableanobstacleasevertothewould-betrespasser.
Iwalkedroundthisbarrierasfarasouroldtrysting-placewithoutfindinganyflawthroughwhichIcouldgetaglimpseofthehouse,forthefencehadbeenrepairedwitheachrailoverlappingthelast,soastosecureabsoluteprivacyforthoseinside,andtoblockthosepeep-holeswhichIhadformerlyused.
Attheoldspot,however,whereIhadhadthememorableinterviewwiththegeneralontheoccasionwhenhesurprisedmewithhisdaughter,Ifoundthatthetwolooserailshadbeenrefixedinsuchamannerthattherewasagapoftwoinchesormorebetweenthem.
ThroughthisIhadaviewofthehouseandofpartofthelawninfrontofit,and,thoughIcouldseenosignsoflifeoutsideoratanyofthewindows,IsettleddownwiththeintentionofstickingtomypostuntilIhadachanceofspeakingtooneorotheroftheinmates.
Indeed,thecold,deadaspectofthehousehadstrucksuchachillintomyheartthatIdeterminedtoscalethefenceatwhateverriskofincurringthegeneral’sdispleasureratherthanreturnwithoutnewsoftheHeatherstones.
Happilytherewasnoneedofthisextremeexpedient,forIhadnotbeentherehalf-an-hourbeforeIheardtheharshsoundofanopeninglock,andthegeneralhimselfemergedfromthemaindoor.
Tomysurprisehewasdressedinamilitaryuniform,andthatnottheuniforminordinaryuseintheBritishArmy.
Theredcoatwasstrangelycutandstainedwiththeweather.
Thetrousershadoriginallybeenwhite,buthadnowfadedtoadirtyyellow.
Witharedsashacrosshischestandastraightswordhangingfromhisside,hestoodthelivingexampleofabygonetype—theJohnCompany’sofficeroffortyyearsago.
Hewasfollowedbytheex-tramp,CorporalRufusSmith,nowwell-cladandprosperous,wholimpedalongbesidehismaster,thetwopacingupanddownthelawnabsorbedinconversation.
Iobservedthatfromtimetotimeoneorotherofthemwouldpauseandglancefurtivelyallaboutthem,asthoughguardingkeenlyagainstasurprise.
Ishouldhavepreferredcommunicatingwiththegeneralalone,butsincetherewasnodissociatinghimfromhiscompanion,Ibeatloudlyonthefencingwithmysticktoattracttheirattention.
Theybothfacedroundinamoment,andIcouldseefromtheirgesturesthattheyweredisturbedandalarmed.
Ithenelevatedmystickabovethebarriertoshowthemwherethesoundproceededfrom.
Atthisthegeneralbegantowalkinmydirectionwiththeairofamanwhoisbracinghimselfupforaneffort,buttheothercaughthimbythewristandendeavouredtodissuadehim.
ItwasonlywhenIshoutedoutmynameandassuredthemthatIwasalonethatIcouldprevailuponthemtoapproach.
Onceassuredofmyidentitythegeneralraneagerlytowardsmeandgreetedmewiththeutmostcordiality.
“Thisistrulykindofyou,West,”hesaid.
“Itisonlyatsuchtimesasthesethatonecanjudgewhoisafriendandwhonot.
Itwouldnotbefairtoyoutoaskyoutocomeinsideortostayanytime,butIamnonethelessverygladtoseeyou.”
“Ihavebeenanxiousaboutyouall,”Isaid,“foritissomelittletimesinceIhaveseenorheardfromanyofyou.Howhaveyouallbeenkeeping?”
“Why,aswellascouldbeexpected.Butwewillbebettertomorrow—wewillbedifferentmento-morrow,eh,Corporal?”
“Yes,sir,”saidthecorporal,raisinghishandtohisforeheadinamilitarysalute.“We’llberightasthebankto-morrow.”
“ThecorporalandIarealittledisturbedinourmindsjustnow,”thegeneralexplained,“butIhavenodoubtthatallwillcomeright.
Afterall,thereisnothinghigherthanProvidence,andweareallinHishands.Andhowhaveyoubeen,eh?”
“Wehavebeenverybusyforonething,”saidI.“Isupposeyouhaveheardnothingofthegreatshipwreck?”
“Notaword,”thegeneralansweredlistlessly.
“Ithoughtthenoiseofthewindwouldpreventyouhearingthesignalguns.Shecameashoreinthebaythenightbeforelast—agreatbarquefromIndia.”
“FromIndia!”ejaculatedthegeneral.
“Yes.Hercrewweresaved,fortunately,andhaveallbeensentontoGlasgow.”
“Allsenton!”criedthegeneral,withafaceasbloodlessasacorpse.
“AllexceptthreeratherstrangecharacterswhoclaimtobeBuddhistpriests.Theyhavedecidedtoremainforafewdaysuponthecoast.”
Thewordswerehardlyoutofmymouthwhenthegeneraldroppeduponhiskneeswithhislong,thinarmsextendedtoHeaven.
“Thywillbedone!”hecriedinacrackingvoice.“Thyblessedwillbedone!”
IcouldseethroughthecrackthatCorporalRufusSmith’sfacehadturnedtoasicklyyellowshade,andthathewaswipingtheperspirationfromhisbrow.
“It’slikemyluck!”hesaid.“Afteralltheseyears,tocomewhenIhavegotasnugbillet.”
“Nevermind,mylad,”thegeneralsaid,rising,andsquaringhisshoulderslikeamanwhobraceshimselfupforaneffort.
“Beitwhatitmaywe’llfaceitasBritishsoldiersshould.
D’yerememberatChillianwallah,whenyouhadtorunfromyourgunstooursquare,andtheSikhhorsecamethunderingdownonourbayonets?
Wedidn’tflinchthen,andwewon’tflinchnow.
ItseemstomethatIfeelbetterthanIhavedoneforyears.
Itwastheuncertaintythatwaskillingme.”
“Andtheinfernaljingle-jangle,”saidthecorporal.“Well,weallgotogether—that’ssomeconsolation.”
“Good-bye,West,”saidthegeneral.“BeagoodhusbandtoGabriel,andgivemypoorwifeahome.Idon’tthinkshewilltroubleyoulong.Good-bye!Godblessyou!”
“Lookhere,General,”Isaid,peremptorilybreakingoffapieceofwoodtomakecommunicationmoreeasy,“thissortofthinghasbeengoingontoolong.
Whatarethesehintsandallusionsandinnuendoes?
Itistimewehadalittleplainspeaking.Whatisityoufear?Outwithit!AreyouindreadoftheseHindoos?
Ifyouare,Iamable,onmyfather’sauthority,tohavethemarrestedasroguesandvagabonds.”
“No,no,thatwouldneverdo,”heanswered,shakinghishead.
“Youwilllearnaboutthewretchedbusinesssoonenough.
Mordauntknowswheretolayhishanduponthepapersbearingonthematter.
Youcanconsulthimaboutitto-morrow.”
“Butsurely,”Icried,“iftheperilissoimminentsomethingmaybedonetoavertit.IfyouwouldbuttellmewhatyoufearIshouldknowhowtoact.”
“Mydearfriend,”hesaid,“thereisnothingtobedone,socalmyourself,andletthingstaketheircourse.
Ithasbeenfollyonmyparttosheltermyselfbehindmerebarriersofwoodandstone.
Thefactis,thatinactionwasterribletome,andIfeltthattodoanything,howeverfutile,inthenatureofaprecaution,wasbetterthanpassiveresignation.
MyhumblefriendhereandIhaveplacedourselvesinapositioninwhich,Itrust,nopoorfellowwilleverfindhimselfagain.
WecanonlyrecommendourselvestotheunfailinggoodnessoftheAlmighty,andtrustthatwhatwehaveenduredinthisworldmaylessenouratonementintheworldtocome.
Imustleaveyounow,forIhavemanypaperstodestroyandmuchtoarrange.Good-bye!”
HepushedhishandthroughtheholewhichIhadmade,andgraspedmineinasolemnfarewell,afterwhichhewalkedbacktotheHallwithafirmanddecidedstep,stillfollowedbythecrippledandsinistercorporal.
IwalkedbacktoBranksomemuchdisturbedbythisinterview,andextremelypuzzledastowhatcourseIshouldpursue.
Itwasevidentnowthatmysister’ssuspicionswerecorrect,andthattherewassomeveryintimateconnectionbetweenthepresenceofthethreeOrientalsandthemysteriousperilwhichhungoverthetowersofCloomber.
Itwasdifficultformetoassociatethenoble-facedRamSingh’sgentle,refinedmannerandwordsofwisdomwithanydeedofviolence,yetnowthatIthoughtofitIcouldseethataterriblecapacityforwrathlaybehindhisshaggybrowsanddark,piercingeyes.
IfeltthatofallmenwhomIhadevermethewastheonewhosedispleasureIshouldleastcaretoface.
Buthowcouldtwomensowidelydissociatedasthefoul-mouthedoldcorporalofartilleryandthedistinguishedAnglo-Indiangeneralhaveeachearnedtheill-willofthesestrangecastaways?
Andifthedangerwereapositivephysicalone,whyshouldhenotconsenttomyproposaltohavethethreemenplacedundercustody—thoughIconfessitwouldhavegonemuchagainstmygraintoactinsoinhospitableamanneruponsuchvagueandshadowygrounds.
Thesequestionswereabsolutelyunanswerable,andyetthesolemnwordsandtheterriblegravitywhichIhadseeninthefacesofboththeoldsoldiersforbademefromthinkingthattheirfearswereentirelyunfounded.
Itwasallapuzzle—anabsolutelyinsolublepuzzle.
Onethingatleastwascleartome—andthatwasthatinthepresentstateofmyknowledge,andafterthegeneral’sdistinctprohibition,itwasimpossibleformetointerfereinanyway.
Icouldonlywaitandpraythat,whateverthedangermightbe,itmightpassover,oratleastthatmydearGabrielandherbrothermightbeprotectedagainstit.
Iwaswalkingdownthelanelostinthought,andhadgotasfarasthewicketgatewhichopensupontheBranksomelawn,whenIwassurprisedtohearmyfather’svoiceraisedinmostanimatedandexcitedconverse.
portraitofSirArthurConanDoyle
Theoldmanhadbeenoflatesoabstractedfromthedailyaffairsoftheworld,andsoabsorbedinhisownspecialstudies,thatitwasdifficulttoengagehisattentionuponanyordinary,mundanetopic.
Curioustoknowwhatitwasthathaddrawnhimsofaroutofhimself,Iopenedthegatesoftly,andwalkingquietlyroundthelaurelbushes,foundhimsitting,tomyastonishment,withnoneotherthantheverymanwhowasoccupyingmythoughts,RamSingh,theBuddhist.
Thetwoweresittinguponagardenbench,andtheOrientalappearedtobelayingdownsomeweightyproposition,checkingeverypointuponhislong,quivering,brownfingers,whilemyfather,withhishandsthrownabroadandhisfaceawry,wasloudinprotestationandinargument.
Soabsorbedweretheyintheircontroversy,thatIstoodwithinahand-touchofthemforaminuteormorebeforetheybecameconsciousofmypresence.
Onobservingmethepriestsprangtohisfeetandgreetedmewiththesameloftycourtesyanddignifiedgracewhichhadsoimpressedmethedaybefore.
“Ipromisedmyselfyesterday,”hesaid,“thepleasureofcallinguponyourfather.YouseeIhavekeptmyword.
IhaveevenbeendaringenoughtoquestionhisviewsuponsomepointsinconnectionwiththeSanscritandHindootongues,withtheresultthatwehavebeenarguingforanhourormorewithouteitherofusconvincingtheother.
WithoutpretendingtoasdeepatheoreticalknowledgeasthatwhichhasmadethenameofJamesHunterWestahouseholdwordamongOrientalscholars,Ihappentohavegivenconsiderableattentiontothisonepoint,andindeedIaminapositiontosaythatIknowhisviewstobeunsound.
Iassureyou,sir,thatuptotheyear700,orevenlater,SanscritwastheordinarylanguageofthegreatbulkoftheinhabitantsofIndia.”
“AndIassureyou,sir,”saidmyfatherwarmly,“thatitwasdeadandforgottenatthatdate,savebythelearned,whouseditasavehicleforscientificandreligiousworks—justasLatinwasusedintheMiddleAgeslongafterithadceasedtobespokenbyanyEuropeannation.”
“Ifyouconsultthepuranasyouwillfind,”saidRamSingh,“thatthistheory,thoughcommonlyreceived,isentirelyuntenable.”
“AndifyouwillconsulttheRamayana,andmoreparticularlythecanonicalbooksonBuddhistdiscipline,”criedmyfather,“youwillfindthatthetheoryisunassailable.”
“ButlookattheKullavagga,”saidourvisitorearnestly.
“AndlookatKingAsoka,”shoutedmyfathertriumphantly.
“When,intheyear300beforetheChristianera—before,mindyou—heorderedthelawsofBuddhatobeengravedupontherocks,whatlanguagedidheemploy,eh?WasitSanscrit?—no!AndwhywasitnotSanscrit?
Becausethelowerordersofhissubjectswouldnothavebeenabletounderstandawordofit.Ha,ha!Thatwasthereason.
HowareyougoingtogetroundKingAsoka’sedicts,eh?”
“Hecarvedtheminthevariousdialects,”RamSinghanswered.
“Butenergyistoopreciousathingtobewastedinmerewindinthisstyle.
Thesunhaspasseditsmeridian,andImustreturntomycompanions.”
“Iamsorrythatyouhavenotbroughtthemtoseeus,”saidmyfathercourteously.Hewas,Icouldsee,uneasylestintheeagernessofdebatehehadoversteppedtheboundsofhospitality.
“Theydonotmixwiththeworld,”RamSinghanswered,risingtohisfeet.
“TheyareofahighergradethanI,andmoresensitivetocontaminatinginfluences.
Theyareimmersedinasixmonths’meditationuponthemysteryofthethirdincarnation,whichhaslastedwithfewintermissionsfromthetimethatwelefttheHimalayas.
Ishallnotseeyouagain,Mr.HunterWest,andIthereforebidyoufarewell.
Youroldagewillbeahappyone,asitdeservestobe,andyourEasternstudieswillhavealastingeffectupontheknowledgeandliteratureofyourowncountry.Farewell!”
“AndamIalsotoseenomoreofyou?”Iasked.
“Unlessyouwillwalkwithmealongthesea-shore,”heanswered.“Butyouhavealreadybeenoutthismorning,andmaybetired.Iasktoomuchofyou.”
“Nay,Ishouldbedelightedtocome,”Irespondedfrommyheart,andwesetofftogether,accompaniedforsomelittledistancebymyfather,whowouldgladly,Icouldsee,havereopenedtheSanscritcontroversy,hadnothisstockofbreathbeentoolimitedtoallowofhistalkingandwalkingatthesametime.
“Heisalearnedman,”RamSinghremarked,afterwehadlefthimbehind,“but,likemanyanother,heisintoleranttowardsopinionswhichdifferfromhisown.Hewillknowbettersomeday.”
Imadenoanswertothisobservation,andwetrudgedalongforatimeinsilence,keepingwelldowntothewater’sedge,wherethesandsaffordedagoodfoothold.
Thesandduneswhichlinedthecoastformedacontinuousridgeuponourleft,cuttingusoffentirelyfromallhumanobservation,whileontherightthebroadChannelstretchedawaywithhardlyasailtobreakitssilveryuniformity.
TheBuddhistpriestandIwereabsolutelyalonewithNature.
Icouldnothelpreflectingthatifhewerereallythedangerousmanthatthemateaffectedtoconsiderhim,orthatmightbeinferredfromthewordsofGeneralHeatherstone,Ihadplacedmyselfcompletelyinhispower.
Yetsuchwasthemajesticbenignityoftheman’saspect,andtheunruffledserenityofhisdeep,darkeyes,thatIcouldaffordinhispresencetoletfearandsuspicionblowpastmeaslightlyasthebreezewhichwhistledroundus.
Hisfacemightbestern,andeventerrible,butIfeltthathecouldneverbeunjust.
AsIglancedfromtimetotimeathisnobleprofileandthesweepofhisjet-blackbeard,hisrough-spuntweedtravelingsuitstruckmewithanalmostpainfulsenseofincongruity,andIre-clothedhiminmyimaginationwiththegrand,sweepingOrientalcostumewhichisthefittingandproperframeforsuchapicture—theonlygarbwhichdoesnotdetractfromthedignityandgraceofthewearer.
Theplacetowhichheledmewasasmallfishercottagewhichhadbeendesertedsomeyearsbeforebyitstenant,butstillstoodgauntandbare,withthethatchpartlyblownawayandthewindowsanddoorsinsaddisrepair.
Thisdwelling,whichthepoorestScotchbeggarwouldhaveshrunkfrom,wastheonewhichthesesingularmenhadpreferredtotheprofferedhospitalityofthelaird’shouse.
Asmallgarden,nowamassoftangledbrambles,stoodroundit,andthroughthismyacquaintancepickedhiswaytotheruineddoor.
Heglancedintothehouseandthenwavedhishandformetofollowhim.
“Youhavenowanopportunity,”hesaid,inasubdued,reverentialvoice,“ofseeingaspectaclewhichfewEuropeanshavehadtheprivilegeofbeholding.
InsidethatcottageyouwillfindtwoYogis—menwhoareonlyoneremovefromthehighestplaneofadeptship.
Theyarebothwrappedinanecstatictrance,otherwiseIshouldnotventuretoobtrudeyourpresenceuponthem.
Theirastralbodieshavedepartedfromthem,tobepresentatthefeastoflampsintheholyLamaseryofRudokinTibet.
Treadlightlylestbystimulatingtheircorporealfunctionsyourecallthembeforetheirdevotionsarecompleted.”
Walkingslowlyandontiptoe,Ipickedmywaythroughtheweed-growngarden,andpeeredthroughtheopendoorway.
Therewasnofurnitureinthedrearyinterior,noranythingtocovertheunevenfloorsavealitteroffreshstrawinacorner.
Amongthisstrawtwomenwerecrouching,theonesmallandwizened,theotherlarge-bonedandgaunt,withtheirlegscrossedinOrientalfashionandtheirheadssunkupontheirbreasts.
Neitherofthemlookedup,ortookthesmallestnoticeofourpresence.
Theyweresostillandsilentthattheymighthavebeentwobronzestatuesbutfortheslowandmeasuredrhythmoftheirbreathing.
Theirfaces,however,hadapeculiar,ashen-greycolour,verydifferentfromthehealthybrownofmycompanion’s,andIobserved,on,stoopingmyhead,thatonlythewhitesoftheireyeswerevisible,theballsbeingturnedupwardsbeneaththelids.
Infrontofthemuponasmallmatlayanearthenwarepitcherofwaterandhalf-a-loafofbread,togetherwithasheetofpaperinscribedwithcertaincabalisticcharacters.
RamSinghglancedatthese,andthen,motioningtometowithdraw,followedmeoutintothegarden.
“Iamnottodisturbthemuntilteno’clock,”hesaid.
“Youhavenowseeninoperationoneofthegrandestresultsofouroccultphilosophy,thedissociationofspiritfrombody.
NotonlyarethespiritsoftheseholymenstandingatthepresentmomentbythebanksoftheGanges,butthosespiritsareclothedinamaterialcoveringsoidenticalwiththeirrealbodiesthatnoneofthefaithfulwilleverdoubtthatLalHoomiandMowdarKhanareactuallyamongthem.
Thisisaccomplishedbyourpowerofresolvinganobjectintoits‘chemicalatoms’,ofconveyingtheseatomswithaspeedwhichexceedsthatoflightningtoanygivenspot,andoftherere-precipitatingthemandcompellingthemtoretaketheiroriginalform.
Ofold,inthedaysofourignorance,itwasnecessarytoconveythewholebodyinthisway,butwehavesincefoundthatitwasaseasyandmoreconvenienttotransmitmaterialenoughmerelytobuildupanoutsideshellorsemblance.Thiswehavetermedtheastralbody”
“Butifyoucantransmityourspiritssoreadily,”Iobserved,“whyshouldtheybeaccompaniedbyanybodyatall?”
“Incommunicatingwithbrotherinitiatesweareabletoemployourspiritsonly,butwhenwewishtocomeincontactwithordinarymankinditisessentialthatweshouldappearinsomeformwhichtheycanseeandcomprehend.”
“Youhaveinterestedmedeeplyinallthatyouhavetoldme,”Isaid,graspingthehandwhichRamSinghhadheldouttomeasasignthatourinterviewwasatanend.
“Ishalloftenthinkofourshortacquaintance.”
“Youwillderivemuchbenefitfromit,”hesaidslowly,stillholdingmyhandandlookinggravelyandsadlyintomyeyes.
“Youmustrememberthatwhatwillhappeninthefutureisnotnecessarilybadbecauseitdoesnotfallinwithyourpreconceivedideasofright.Benothastyinyourjudgments.
Therearecertaingreatruleswhichmustbecarriedout,atwhatevercosttoindividuals.
Theiroperationmayappeartoyoutobeharshandcruel,butthatisasnothingcomparedwiththedangerousprecedentwhichwouldbeestablishedbynotenforcingthem.
Theoxandthesheeparesafefromus,butthemanwiththebloodofthehighestuponhishandsshouldnotandshallnotlive.”
Hethrewuphisarmsatthelastwordswithafierce,threateninggesture,and,turningawayfromme,strodebacktotheruinedhut.
Istoodgazingafterhimuntilhedisappearedthroughthedoorway,andthenstartedoffforhome,revolvinginmymindallthatIhadheard,andmoreparticularlythislastoutburstoftheoccultphilosopher.
FarontherightIcouldseethetall,whitetowerofCloomberstandingoutclear-cutandsharpagainstadarkcloud-bankwhichrosebehindit.
Ithoughthowanytravelerwhochancedtopassthatwaywouldenvyinhisheartthetenantofthatmagnificentbuilding,andhowlittletheywouldguessthestrangeterrors,thenamelessdangers,whichweregatheringabouthishead.
Theblackcloud-wrackwasbuttheimage,Ireflected,ofthedarker,moresombrestormwhichwasabouttoburst.
“Whateveritallmeans,andhoweverithappens,”Iejaculated,“Godgrantthattheinnocentbenotconfoundedwiththeguilty.”
Myfather,whenIreachedhome,wasstillinafermentoverhislearneddisputationwiththestranger.
“Itrust,Jack,”hesaid,“thatIdidnothandlehimtooroughly.
IshouldrememberthatIaminlocomagistri,andbelesspronetoarguewithmyguests.
Yet,whenhetookupthismostuntenableposition,Icouldnotrefrainfromattackinghimandhurlinghimoutofit,whichindeedIdid,thoughyou,whoareignorantofthenicetiesofthequestion,mayhavefailedtoperceiveit.
Youobserved,however,thatmyreferencetoKingAsoka’sedictswassoconclusivethatheatonceroseandtookhisleave.”
“Youheldyourownbravely,”Ianswered,“butwhatisyourimpressionofthemannowthatyouhaveseenhim?”
“Why,”saidmyfather,“heisoneofthoseholymenwho,underthevariousnamesofSannasis,Yogis,Sevras,Qualanders,Hakims,andCufishavedevotedtheirlivestothestudyofthemysteriesoftheBuddhistfaith.
Heis,Itakeit,atheosophist,orworshipperoftheGodofknowledge,thehighestgradeofwhichistheadept.
Thismanandhiscompanionshavenotattainedthishighpositionortheycouldnothavecrossedtheseawithoutcontamination.
Itisprobablethattheyarealladvancedchelaswhohopeintimetoattaintothesupremehonourofadeptship.”
“But,father,”interruptedmysister,“thisdoesnotexplainwhymenofsuchsanctityandattainmentsshouldchoosetotakeuptheirquartersontheshoresofadesolateScotchbay.”
“Ah,thereyougetbeyondme,”myfatheranswered.“Imaysuggest,however,thatitisnobody’sbusinessbuttheirown,solongastheykeepthepeaceandareamenabletothelawoftheland.”
“Haveyoueverheard,”Iasked,“thatthesehigherpriestsofwhomyouspeakhavepowerswhicharetous?”
“Why,Easternliteratureisfullofit.TheBibleisanEasternbook,andisitnotfulloftherecordofsuchpowersfromcovertocover?
ItisunquestionablethattheyhaveinthepastknownmanyofNature’ssecretswhicharelosttous.
Icannotsay,however,frommyownknowledgethatthemoderntheosophistsreallypossessthepowersthattheyclaim.”
“Aretheyavindictiveclassofpeople?”Iasked.“Isthereanyoffenceamongthemwhichcanonlybeexpiatedbydeath?”
“NotthatIknowof,”myfatheranswered,raisinghiswhiteeyebrowsinsurprise.
“Youappeartobeinaninquisitivehumourthisafternoon—whatistheobjectofallthesequestions?
HaveourEasternneighboursarousedyourcuriosityorsuspicioninanyway?”
IparriedthequestionasbestImight,forIwasunwillingtolettheoldmanknowwhatwasinmymind.
Nogoodpurposecouldcomefromhisenlightenment;hisageandhishealthdemandedrestratherthananxiety;andindeed,withthebestwillintheworldIshouldhavefounditdifficulttoexplaintoanotherwhatwassoveryobscuretomyself.
ForeveryreasonIfeltthatitwasbestthatheshouldbekeptinthedark.
NeverinallmyexperiencehadIknownadaypasssoslowlyasdidthateventful5thofOctober.
IneverypossiblemannerIendeavouredtowhileawaythetedioushours,andyetitseemedasifdarknesswouldneverarrive.
Itriedtoread,Itriedtowrite,Ipacedaboutthelawn,Iwalkedtotheendofthelane,Iputnewfliesuponmyfishing-hooks,Ibegantoindexmyfather’slibrary—inadozenwaysIendeavouredtorelievethesuspensewhichwasbecomingintolerable.
Mysister,Icouldsee,wassufferingfromthesamefeverishrestlessness.
Againandagainourgoodfatherremonstratedwithusinhismildwayforourerraticbehaviourandthecontinualinterruptionofhisworkwhicharosefromit.
Atlast,however,theteawasbrought,andtheteawastaken,thecurtainsweredrawn,thelampslit,andafteranotherinterminableintervaltheprayerswerereadandtheservantsdismissedtotheirrooms.
Myfathercompoundedandswallowedhisnightlyjorumoftoddy,andthenshuffledofftohisroom,leavingthetwoofusintheparlourwithournervesinatingleandourmindsfullofthemostvagueandyetterribleapprehensions.
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