twenty-four

Hastings was saying to Cummins‘… and have about three days set aside to find additional help for Thursday at the banquet. I doubt we have enough people, and I do believe that whoever you find will need to be trained a little.’

‘Very good, m’lord,’ Cummins replied. ‘And what of the wine?’

‘Well,’ Hastings said as he put down his quill. ‘I have a shipment arriving the day after tomorrow. We should have enough wine and champagne. I do need you to prepare a slightly exotic menu. Maybe a Far Eastern theme?’

The secretary was making notes and Hastings was looking at him, considering what else he needed to tell the man. The hour was late and he wanted to go to bed. He had a pretty native waiting for him. Her husband had wanted ten rupees for her, and Hastings didn’t want to waste the money.

Just then he heard a loud gunshot, followed a few minutes later by another.

‘Did you hear that, Cummins?’ he asked his secretary. ‘That was gunfire.’

The secretary got up and walked to the window. ‘I think it came from your residence, m’ lord.’

Hastings got up and, turning around, looked out of his window at the well-lit building not sixty yards from him.

‘What the devil could be going on in there?’