India 2001 books

The
Montenegrin houses were small and simple, four walls and a roof, like
the drawing of a three-year-old child. The only thing lacking was the
curly smoke coming from the chimney. Broad streets lined with these
houses were unexhilarating in effect, and would have been more
depressing except for the bright colours with which they were painted.
When the horses were replete after their midday meal we loaded up,
adding to our numbers a taciturn man who sat on the box. We rolled on to
Podgoritza, arriving at two o'clock in a steady downpour.
Podgoritza seemed unaware of our arrival. The streets were empty, and
the Prefect's offices were tenanted only by the porter, a Turk, who
remarked that the Prefect was taking his siesta, and seemed to think
that was the end of it.
This was awful, after being Highnesses for a week, to be treated just
like ordinary people, and perhaps to lose all chance of reaching
Cettinje that night.
"Produce the Prefect," said Jo, stamping her foot, but the Turk only
smiled and suggested a visit to the adjutant's office.


Pages:
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113