The black devil has seized him. He must
have opium or he will die.' I ran at once to the Captain's tent, and as
soon as I set eyes on him I saw that he had been seized with cholera. I
went off at once and fetched M. Platzoff. We had nothing in the way of
medicine with us except brandy and opium. Under the Russian's directions
these were given to my poor master in large quantities, but he grew
gradually worse. Rung and I in everything obeyed M. Platzoff, who seemed
to know quite well what ought to be done in such cases; and to tell the
truth, your ladyship, he seemed as much put about as if the Captain had
been his own brother. Well, the Captain grew weaker as the day went on,
and towards evening it grew quite clear that he could not last much
longer. The pain had left him by this time, but he was so frightfully
reduced that we could not bring him round. He was lying in every respect
like one already dead, except for his faint breathing, when the Russian
left the tent for a moment, and I took his place at the head of the bed.
Rung was standing with folded arms a yard or two away. None of the other
native servants could be persuaded to enter the tent, so frightened were
they of catching the complaint. Suddenly my poor master opened his eyes,
and his lips moved. I put my ear to his mouth. 'The diamond,' he
whispered. 'Take it--mother--give my love.' Not a word more on earth,
your ladyship. His limbs stiffened; his head fell back; he gave a great
sigh and died.
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