Маленька принцеса
What Melchisedec Heard and Saw
Theydidnotremainverylong,tothegreatreliefofMelchisedec,who,asheprobablydidnotcomprehendtheirconversation,felttheirmovementsandwhispersominous.Theyoungsecretaryseemedinterestedineverything.Hewrotedownthingsaboutthefloor,thefireplace,thebrokenfootstool,theoldtable,thewalls—whichlasthetouchedwithhishandagainandagain,seemingmuchpleasedwhenhefoundthatanumberofoldnailshadbeendriveninvariousplaces.
"Youcanhangthingsonthem,"hesaid.
RamDasssmiledmysteriously.
"Yesterday,whenshewasout,"hesaid,"Ientered,bringingwithmesmall,sharpnailswhichcanbepressedintothewallwithoutblowsfromahammer.IplacedmanyintheplasterwhereImayneedthem.Theyareready."
TheIndiangentleman’ssecretarystoodstillandlookedroundhimashethrusthistabletsbackintohispocket.
"IthinkIhavemadenotesenough;wecangonow,"hesaid."TheSahibCarrisfordhasawarmheart.Itisathousandpitiesthathehasnotfoundthelostchild."
"Ifheshouldfindherhisstrengthwouldberestoredtohim,"saidRamDass."HisGodmayleadhertohimyet."
Thentheyslippedthroughtheskylightasnoiselesslyastheyhadenteredit.And,afterhewasquitesuretheyhadgone,Melchisedecwasgreatlyrelieved,andinthecourseofafewminutesfeltitsafetoemergefromhisholeagainandscuffleaboutinthehopethatevensuchalarminghumanbeingsasthesemighthavechancedtocarrycrumbsintheirpocketsanddroponeortwoofthem.
