India 2001 books

She was the daughter of a man who had been exiled from his village
because he had taken a prominent part in a blood feud, and the old
Gospodar had told him he would be healthier elsewhere. So they had
emigrated as far as Serbia, where she had learnt to read and write.
A lady of good family but bad character suddenly decided to leave
Montenegro, and fled to the shores of Cattaro, carrying with her a large
number of State secrets. The Court was aghast. What was to be done?
A villain was needed. The father was decided upon, and with the help of
the lady's brothers she was kidnapped, carried back to Montenegro, and
disappeared for ever. For which noble work he was permitted to return to
his village.
The old lady had a supreme contempt for the Montenegrins who had not
"travelled," but she looked upon the growing pomp of the Court with
suspicion.
"Ah," she said, "those were fine days when the king was only the
Gospodar, and there were none of these gold embroidered uniforms about,
and the Queen and I used to slide down the Palace banisters together.


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