154 SECOND DURBAR 



order prevailed. A ladder was placed against 

 the side of the elephant, and Lady Hardinge, pale 

 but quite cool and under perfect self-control, 

 stepped quickly but calmly to the ground. In a 

 firm, clear voice she ordered up the Viceregal 

 motor-car and superintended the lowering of the 

 body of her now unconscious husband. Her 

 conduct throughout was that of a heroine it is 

 the correct term to use and it enormously im- 

 pressed all present. 



As I have already said, before losing conscious- 

 ness His Excellency designated me his remplafant, 

 and as soon as he had been taken away and his 

 elephant moved to one side, I gave the order to 

 proceed as though nothing had happened. The 

 only change in regard to myself was that I found 

 myself at the head of the procession instead 

 of being number three, and that I held in my hand 

 the manuscript notes of the Viceroy's speech to be 

 delivered from the dais on which the peacock 

 throne once stood, and which he had sent me, and 

 which were bespattered with his blood. 



The whole incident can be best described as 

 shocking. It shocked rather than alarmed, leav- 

 ing a feeling of stupefaction coupled with, I admit, 

 a strong feeling of anger and resentment. 



But what seemed to knock at one's heart was 

 the magnificent bearing of Lady Hardinge. 



From first to last that sweet woman was entirely 

 self-possessed, and not for one moment did she 

 fail to radiate confidence and inspire courage. 



When the procession reached the entrance to 

 the Naubat Khana we dismounted, and I received 

 an address from the members of the Legislative 



