<h2 class="label">CHAPTER XI</h2>
<h2 class="main">Lord Cunningham, Viceroy of India</h2></div>
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<p class="par first">Hardly had Margaret reached her home in Wyoming,
when Aurora likewise was welcomed by her people in England. Her father,
whose brilliant career upward from the ranks of the common people had
astonished the diplomats of the world, meanwhile had been raised to the
highest rank of peerage.</p>
<p class="par">Being a born leader of such inexhaustible sagacity and
acumen, his promotion from one important position to another was not
only inevitable but necessary, and hardly a month had elapsed since
Aurora’s return to London, before he was gazetted as Lord
Cunningham, Viceroy to India.</p>
<p class="par">The situation at that time in India was quite a delicate
one, on account of the Thibetan boundary question with Russia. The
latter had raised her periodical spasm of aggression, in <span class="pagenum">[<SPAN name="pb117" href="#pb117" name=
"pb117">117</SPAN>]</span>order to attain certain political ends at home,
and the departure of Lord Cunningham was therefore hastened.</p>
<p class="par">It was near the end of November when Lord Cunningham,
his wife and beautiful daughter were regally received in Bombay.
Distinguished looking in his six feet two inches of height, with a
leonine countenance, The Lord at once captivated the Indian rajahs,
princes, and also commanded the respect of the populace. His courteous
manners, forceful and firm proclamations and actual philanthropic
undertakings coupled with his propaganda of dispensing equal justice to
all, aroused at once the enthusiasm, patriotism and loyalty of every
class, and quieted the racial differences and political disquietude
among the people.</p>
<p class="par">The Russian government, seeing this solid phalanx of
unity and change of sentiment of the Indian people, beat a hasty
retreat under the subterfuge of quelling an alleged disturbance on the
borders of Manchuria.</p>
<p class="par">In order to give himself an opportunity for a general
introduction, Lord Cunningham decided to hold a reception and dance. It
was planned to follow the style of entertaining then <span class="pagenum">[<SPAN name="pb118" href="#pb118" name="pb118">118</SPAN>]</span>in
vogue, a combination of literary and musical talent to be followed by a
reception. Among the many who had consented to contribute to the
evening’s entertainment, and occupying the place of honor, was
the celebrated savant Abou Shimshek, the Astronomer of Ispahan, who had
just returned from an adventurous expedition to the Himalayas to
investigate Nature’s wonders.</p>
<p class="par">Lord Cunningham being aware of the presence of the
celebrated prodigies, the Dusky Quartette, who were on their itinerary
to Bombay, had sought and engaged their services for the occasion. An
American violin virtuoso, Spencer Hamilton, who had created a furore in
Simla a week previously at a fashionable society recital and was
acclaimed as an unequaled maestro of his instrument, had also promised
to appear during the entertainment and render a few selections on the
violin.</p>
<p class="par">On the night of the <span class="corr" id="xd22e1532"
title="Source: Soiree">Soirée</span> a great multitude of
natives as well as eminent European personages were present, in all the
picturesque splendor of the habilaments of their respective countries.
There were Maharajahs, dazzling with diamonds, accompanied by their
retinue blazing <span class="pagenum">[<SPAN name="pb119" href="#pb119"
name="pb119">119</SPAN>]</span>with silver and gold embroidered costumes,
Ascetic Brahmins and sombre looking Fakirs from the seats of learning
of Hyderabad, mysterious emissaries from the sacred city of Delhi,
learned Sheiks with flowing patriarchal beards from Arabia and Egypt,
Magicians from all over Persia, besides all fashionable folk from
military posts throughout the East Indian Empire.</p>
<p class="par">Dashing and handsome officers vied with each other in
their endeavor to do homage to the beautiful Aurora, who was enthroned
next to her mother. After a prelude on the dulciphone, Abou Shimshek,
amidst the huzzah and clamor of the assemblage, with great dignity came
forward, and with uplifted arms, invoking the spirits of Hafiz and
Firdozy to endow him with eloquence, began the account of his thrilling
adventure as follows: <span class="pagenum">[<SPAN name="pb120" href="#pb120" name="pb120">120</SPAN>]</span></p>
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<div id="ch12" class="div1 chapter"><span class="pagenum">[<SPAN href="#xd22e293">Contents</SPAN>]</span>
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