第4章

Idonotwishintheleasttoreflectonthemoralityofthe“Shikarris；“butitisonrecordthatfourmenjumpedupasiftheyhadbeenshot。Threeofthemweremarriedmen。PerhapstheywereafraidthattheirwiveshadcomefromHomeunbeknownst。Thefourthsaidthathehadactedontheimpulseofthemoment。Heexplainedthisafterwards。

Thenthevoicecried:——“Oh，Lionel！“LionelwastheSeniorSubaltern"sname。Awomancameintothelittlecircleoflightbythecandlesonthepeg-tables，stretchingoutherhandstothedarkwheretheSeniorSubalternwas，andsobbing。Werosetoourfeet，feelingthatthingsweregoingtohappenandreadytobelievetheworst。Inthisbad，smallworldofours，oneknowssolittleofthelifeofthenextman——which，afterall，isentirelyhisownconcern——

thatoneisnotsurprisedwhenacrashcomes。Anythingmightturnupanydayforanyone。PerhapstheSeniorSubalternhadbeentrappedinhisyouth。Menarecrippledthatwayoccasionally。Wedidn"tknow；wewantedtohear；andtheCaptains"wiveswereasanxiousaswe。IfheHADbeentrapped，hewastobeexcused；forthewomanfromnowhere，inthedustyshoes，andgraytravellingdress，wasverylovely，withblackhairandgreateyesfulloftears。Shewastall，withafinefigure，andhervoicehadarunningsobinitpitifultohear。AssoonastheSeniorSubalternstoodup，shethrewherarmsroundhisneck，andcalledhim“mydarling，“andsaidshecouldnotbearwaitingaloneinEngland，andhislettersweresoshortandcold，andshewashistotheendoftheworld，andwouldheforgiveher。Thisdidnotsoundquitelikealady"swayofspeaking。Itwastoodemonstrative。

Thingsseemedblackindeed，andtheCaptains"wivespeeredundertheireyebrowsattheSeniorSubaltern，andtheColonel"sfacesetliketheDayofJudgmentframedingraybristles，andnoonespokeforawhile。

NexttheColonelsaid，veryshortly:——“Well，Sir?“andthewomansobbedafresh。TheSeniorSubalternwashalfchokedwiththearmsroundhisneck，buthegaspedout:——“It"sad——dlie！Ineverhadawifeinmylife！““Don"tswear，“saidtheColonel。“ComeintotheMess。Wemustsiftthisclearsomehow，“andhesighedtohimself，forhebelievedinhis“Shikarris，“didtheColonel。

Wetroopedintotheante-room，underthefulllights，andtherewesawhowbeautifulthewomanwas。Shestoodupinthemiddleofusall，sometimeschokingwithcrying，thenhardandproud，andthenholdingoutherarmstotheSeniorSubaltern。Itwaslikethefourthactofatragedy。ShetoldushowtheSeniorSubalternhadmarriedherwhenhewasHomeonleaveeighteenmonthsbefore；andsheseemedtoknowallthatweknew，andmoretoo，ofhispeopleandhispastlife。Hewaswhiteandashygray，tryingnowandagaintobreakintothetorrentofherwords；andwe，notinghowlovelyshewasandwhatacriminalhelooked，esteemedhimabeastoftheworstkind。Wefeltsorryforhim，though。

IshallneverforgettheindictmentoftheSeniorSubalternbyhiswife。Norwillhe。Itwassosudden，rushingoutofthedark，unannounced，intoourdulllives。TheCaptains"wivesstoodback；

buttheireyeswerealight，andyoucouldseethattheyhadalreadyconvictedandsentencedtheSeniorSubaltern。TheColonelseemedfiveyearsolder。OneMajorwasshadinghiseyeswithhishandandwatchingthewomanfromunderneathit。Anotherwaschewinghismoustacheandsmilingquietlyasifhewerewitnessingaplay。Fullintheopenspaceinthecentre，bythewhist-tables，theSeniorSubaltern"sterrierwashuntingforfleas。Irememberallthisasclearlyasthoughaphotographwereinmyhand。IrememberthelookofhorrorontheSeniorSubaltern"sface。Itwasratherlikeseeingamanhanged；butmuchmoreinteresting。Finally，thewomanwoundupbysayingthattheSeniorSubalterncarriedadoubleF。M。intattooonhisleftshoulder。Weallknewthat，andtoourinnocentmindsitseemedtoclinchthematter。ButoneoftheBachelorMajorssaidverypolitely:——“Ipresumethatyourmarriagecertificatewouldbemoretothepurpose?“

Thatrousedthewoman。ShestoodupandsneeredattheSeniorSubalternforacur，andabusedtheMajorandtheColonelandalltherest。Thenshewept，andthenshepulledapaperfromherbreast，sayingimperially:——“Takethat！Andletmyhusband——mylawfullyweddedhusband——readitaloud——ifhedare！“

Therewasahush，andthemenlookedintoeachother"seyesastheSeniorSubalterncameforwardinadazedanddizzyway，andtookthepaper。Wewerewonderingaswestared，whethertherewasanythingagainstanyoneofusthatmightturnuplateron。TheSeniorSubaltern"sthroatwasdry；but，asheranhiseyeoverthepaper，hebrokeoutintoahoarsecackleofrelief，andsaidtothewoman:——

“Youyoungblackguard！“

Butthewomanhadfledthroughadoor，andonthepaperwaswritten:——“ThisistocertifythatI，TheWorm，havepaidinfullmydebtstotheSeniorSubaltern，and，further，thattheSeniorSubalternismydebtor，byagreementonthe23dofFebruary，asbytheMessattested，totheextentofonemonth"sCaptain"spay，inthelawfulcurrencyoftheIndiaEmpire。”

ThenadeputationsetoffforTheWorm"squartersandfoundhim，betwixtandbetween，unlacinghisstays，withthehat，wig，sergedress，etc。，onthebed。Hecameoverashewas，andthe“Shikarris“shoutedtilltheGunners"Messsentovertoknowiftheymighthaveashareofthefun。Ithinkwewereall，excepttheColonelandtheSeniorSubaltern，alittledisappointedthatthescandalhadcometonothing。Butthatishumannature。TherecouldbenotwowordsaboutTheWorm"sacting。Itleanedasneartoanastytragedyasanythingthissideofajokecan。WhenmostoftheSubalternssatuponhimwithsofa-cushionstofindoutwhyhehadnotsaidthatactingwashisstrongpoint，heansweredveryquietly:——“Idon"tthinkyoueveraskedme。IusedtoactatHomewithmysisters。”ButnoactingwithgirlscouldaccountforTheWorm"sdisplaythatnight。Personally，Ithinkitwasinbadtaste。

Besidesbeingdangerous。Thereisnosortofuseinplayingwithfire，evenforfun。

The“Shikarris“madehimPresidentoftheRegimentalDramaticClub；

and，whentheSeniorSubalternpaiduphisdebt，whichhedidatonce，TheWormsankthemoneyinsceneryanddresses。HewasagoodWorm；andthe“Shikarris“areproudofhim。Theonlydrawbackisthathehasbeenchristened“Mrs。SeniorSubaltern；“andastherearenowtwoMrs。SeniorSubalternsintheStation，thisissometimesconfusingtostrangers。

Lateron，Iwilltellyouofacasesomethinglike，this，butwithallthejestleftoutandnothinginitbutrealtrouble。

THEBROKENLINKHANDICAPPED。

Whilethesnaffleholds，orthe“long-neck“stings，Whilethebigbeamtilts，orthelastbellrings，Whilehorsesarehorsestotrainandtorace，ThenwomenandwinetakeasecondplaceForme——forme——

Whileashort“ten-three“

Hasafieldtosquanderorfencetoface！

SongoftheG。R。

Therearemorewaysofrunningahorsetosuityourbookthanpullinghisheadoffinthestraight。Somemenforgetthis。

Understandclearlythatallracingisrotten——aseverythingconnectedwithlosingmoneymustbe。Outhere，inadditiontoitsinherentrottenness，ithasthemeritofbeingtwo-thirdssham；

lookingprettyonpaperonly。Everyoneknowseveryoneelsefartoowellforbusinesspurposes。Howonearthcanyourackandharryandpostamanforhislosings，whenyouarefondofhiswife，andliveinthesameStationwithhim?Hesays，“ontheMondayfollowing，““Ican"tsettlejustyet。”“Yousay，“Allright，oldman，“andthinkyourselfluckyifyoupulloffninehundredoutofatwo-thousandrupeedebt。Anywayyoulookatit，Indianracingisimmoral，andexpensivelyimmoral。Whichismuchworse。Ifamanwantsyourmoney，heoughttoaskforit，orsendroundasubscription-list，insteadofjugglingaboutthecountry，withanAustralianlarrikin；a“brumby，“withasmuchbreedastheboy；abraceofchumarsingold-lacedcaps；threeorfourekka-ponieswithhoggedmanes，andaswitch-taileddemirepofamarecalledArabbecauseshehasakinkinherflag。Racingleadstotheshroffquickerthananythingelse。Butifyouhavenoconscienceandnosentiments，andgoodhands，andsomeknowledgeofpace，andtenyears"experienceofhorses，andseveralthousandrupeesamonth，I

believethatyoucanoccasionallycontrivetopayyourshoeing-

bills。

DidyoueverknowShackles——b。w。g。，15。13。8——coarse，loose，mule-

likeears——barrelaslongasagate-post——toughasatelegraph-wire——

andthequeerestbrutethateverlookedthroughabridle?Hewasofnobrand，beingoneofanear-nickedmobtakenintotheBucephalusat4l-10s。aheadtomakeupfreight，andsoldrawandoutofconditionatCalcuttaforRs。275。Peoplewholostmoneyonhimcalledhima“brumby；“butifeveranyhorsehadHarpoon"sshouldersandTheGin"stemper，Shackleswasthathorse。Twomileswashisownparticulardistance。Hetrainedhimself，ranhimself，androdehimself；and，ifhisjockeyinsultedhimbygivinghimhints，heshutupatonceandbuckedtheboyoff。Heobjectedtodictation。Twoorthreeofhisownersdidnotunderstandthis，andlostmoneyinconsequence。Atlasthewasboughtbyamanwhodiscoveredthat，ifaracewastobewon，Shackles，andShacklesonly，wouldwinitinhisownway，solongashisjockeysatstill。

Thismanhadariding-boycalledBrunt——aladfromPerth，WestAustralia——andhetaughtBrunt，withatrainer"swhip，thehardestthingajockcanlearn——tositstill，tositstill，andtokeeponsittingstill。WhenBruntfairlygraspedthistruth，Shacklesdevastatedthecountry。Noweightcouldstophimathisowndistance；andThefameofShacklesspreadfromAjmirintheSouth，toChedputterintheNorth。TherewasnohorselikeShackles，solongashewasallowedtodohisworkinhisownway。Buthewasbeatenintheend；andthestoryofhisfallisenoughtomakeangelsweep。

AtthelowerendoftheChedputterracecourse，justbeforetheturnintothestraight，thetrackpassesclosetoacoupleofoldbrick-

moundsenclosingafunnel-shapedhollow。Thebigendofthefunnelisnotsixfeetfromtherailingsontheoff-side。Theastoundingpeculiarityofthecourseisthat，ifyoustandatoneparticularplace，abouthalfamileaway，insidethecourse，andspeakatanordinarypitch，yourvoicejusthitsthefunnelofthebrick-moundsandmakesacuriouswhiningechothere。Amandiscoveredthisonemorningbyaccidentwhileouttrainingwithafriend。Hemarkedtheplacetostandandspeakfromwithacoupleofbricks，andhekepthisknowledgetohimself。EVERYpeculiarityofacourseisworthrememberinginacountrywhereratsplaythemischiefwiththeelephant-litter，andStewardsbuildjumpstosuittheirownstables。

Thismanranaveryfairishcountry-bred，along，rackinghighmarewiththetemperofafiend，andthepacesofanairywanderingseraph——adrifty，glidystretch。Themarewas，asadelicatetributetoMrs。Reiver，called“TheLadyRegulaBaddun“——orforshort，RegulaBaddun。

Shackles"jockey，Brunt，wasaquiet，well-behavedboy，buthisnerveshadbeenshaken。Hebeganhiscareerbyridingjump-racesinMelbourne，whereafewStewardswantlynching，andwasoneofthejockeyswhocamethroughtheawfulbutchery——perhapsyouwillrecollectit——oftheMaribyrnongPlate。Thewallswerecolonialramparts——logsofjarrakspikedintomasonry——withwingsasstrongasChurchbuttresses。Onceinhisstride，ahorsehadtojumporfall。Hecouldn"trunout。IntheMaribyrnongPlate，twelvehorseswerejammedatthesecondwall。RedHat，leading，fellthisside，andthrewoutTheGlen，andtheruckcameupbehindandthespacebetweenwingandwingwasonestruggling，screaming，kickingshambles。Fourjockeysweretakenoutdead；threewereverybadlyhurt，andBruntwasamongthethree。HetoldthestoryoftheMaribyrnongPlatesometimes；andwhenhedescribedhowWhalleyonRedHat，said，asthemarefellunderhim:——“Godha"mercy，I"mdonefor！“andhow，nextinstant，SitheeThereandWhiteOtterhadcrushedthelifeoutofpoorWhalley，andthedusthidasmallhellofmenandhorses，noonemarvelledthatBrunthaddroppedjump-

racesandAustraliatogether。RegulaBaddun"sownerknewthatstorybyheart。Bruntnevervarieditinthetelling。Hehadnoeducation。

ShacklescametotheChedputterAutumnracesoneyear，andhisownerwalkedaboutinsultingthesportsmenofChedputtergenerally，tilltheywenttotheHonorarySecretaryinabodyandsaid:——“AppointHandicappers，andarrangearacewhichshallbreakShacklesandhumbletheprideofhisowner。”TheDistrictsroseagainstShacklesandsentupoftheirbest；Ousel，whowassupposedtobeabletodohismilein1-53；Petard，thestud-bred，trainedbyacavalryregimentwhoknewhowtotrain；Gringalet，theewe-lambofthe75th；

Bobolink，theprideofPeshawar；andmanyothers。

TheycalledthatraceTheBroken-LinkHandicap，becauseitwastosmashShackles；andtheHandicapperspiledontheweights，andtheFundgaveeighthundredrupees，andthedistancewas“roundthecourseforallhorses。”Shackles"ownersaid:——“YoucanarrangetheracewithregardtoShacklesonly。Solongasyoudon"tburyhimunderweight-cloths，Idon"tmind。RegulaBaddun"sownersaid:——“I

throwinmymaretofretOusel。SixfurlongsisRegula"sdistance，andshewillthenliedownanddie。SoalsowillOusel，forhisjockeydoesn"tunderstandawaitingrace。”Now，thiswasalie，forRegulahadbeeninworkfortwomonthsatDehra，andherchancesweregood，alwayssupposingthatShacklesbrokeablood-vessel——OR

BRUNTMOVEDONHIM。

Theplunginginthelotterieswasfine。Theyfilledeightthousand-

rupeelotteriesontheBrokenLinkHandicap，andtheaccountinthePioneersaidthat“favoritismwasdivided。”InplainEnglish，thevariouscontingentswerewildontheirrespectivehorses；fortheHandicappershaddonetheirworkwell。TheHonorarySecretaryshoutedhimselfhoarsethroughthedin；andthesmokeofthecherootswaslikethesmoke，andtherattlingofthedice-boxesliketherattleofsmall-armfire。

Tenhorsesstarted——verylevel——andRegulaBaddun"sownercanteredoutonhisbacktoaplaceinsidethecircleofthecourse，wheretwobrickshadbeenthrown。Hefacedtowardsthebrick-moundsatthelowerendofthecourseandwaited。

ThestoryoftherunningisinthePioneer。Attheendofthefirstmile，Shacklescreptoutoftheruck，wellontheoutside，readytogetroundtheturn，layholdofthebitandspinupthestraightbeforetheothersknewhehadgotaway。Bruntwassittingstill，perfectlyhappy，listeningtothe“drum，drum，drum“ofthehoofsbehind，andknowingthat，inabouttwentystrides，Shackleswoulddrawonedeepbreathandgoupthelasthalf-milelikethe“FlyingDutchman。”AsShackleswentshorttotaketheturnandcameabreastofthebrick-mound，Bruntheard，abovethenoiseofthewindinhisears，awhining，wailingvoiceontheoffside，saying:——“Godha"

mercy，I"mdonefor！“Inonestride，BruntsawthewholeseethingsmashoftheMaribyrnongPlatebeforehim，startedinhissaddleandgaveayellofterror。ThestartbroughttheheelsintoShackles"

side，andthescreamhurtShackles"feelings。Hecouldn"tstopdead；butheputouthisfeetandslidalongforfiftyyards，andthen，verygravelyandjudicially，buckedoffBrunt——ashaking，terror-strickenlump，whileRegulaBaddunmadeaneck-and-neckracewithBobolinkupthestraight，andwonbyashorthead——Petardabadthird。Shackles"owner，intheStand，triedtothinkthathisfield-glasseshadgonewrong。RegulaBaddun"sowner，waitingbythetwobricks，gaveonedeepsighofrelief，andcanteredbacktothestand。Hehadwon，inlotteriesandbets，aboutfifteenthousand。

Itwasabroken-linkHandicapwithavengeance。Itbrokenearlyallthemenconcerned，andnearlybroketheheartofShackles"owner。

HewentdowntointerviewBrunt。Theboylay，lividandgaspingwithfright，wherehehadtumbledoff。Thesinoflosingtheraceneverseemedtostrikehim。AllheknewwasthatWhalleyhad“called“him，thatthe“call“wasawarning；and，werehecutintwoforit，hewouldnevergetupagain。Hisnervehadgonealtogether，andheonlyaskedhismastertogivehimagoodthrashing，andlethimgo。Hewasfitfornothing，hesaid。Hegothisdismissal，andcreptuptothepaddock，whiteaschalk，withbluelips，hiskneesgivingwayunderhim。Peoplesaidnastythingsinthepaddock；butBruntneverheeded。Hechangedintotweeds，tookhisstickandwentdowntheroad，stillshakingwithfright，andmutteringoverandoveragain:——“Godha"mercy，I"mdonefor！“Tothebestofmyknowledgeandbeliefhespokethetruth。

SonowyouknowhowtheBroken-LinkHandicapwasrunandwon。Ofcourseyoudon"tbelieveit。YouwouldcreditanythingaboutRussia"sdesignsonIndia，ortherecommendationsoftheCurrencyCommission；butalittlebitofsoberfactismorethanyoucanstand！

BEYONDTHEPALE。

“Loveheedsnotcastenorsleepabrokenbed。Iwentinsearchofloveandlostmyself。”

HinduProverb。

Amanshould，whateverhappens，keeptohisowncaste，raceandbreed。LettheWhitegototheWhiteandtheBlacktotheBlack。

Then，whatevertroublefallsisintheordinarycourseofthings——

neithersudden，alien，norunexpected。

Thisisthestoryofamanwhowilfullysteppedbeyondthesafelimitsofdecentevery-daysociety，andpaidforitheavily。

Heknewtoomuchinthefirstinstance；andhesawtoomuchinthesecond。Hetooktoodeepaninterestinnativelife；buthewillneverdosoagain。

DeepawayintheheartoftheCity，behindJithaMegji"sbustee，liesAmirNath"sGully，whichendsinadead-wallpiercedbyonegratedwindow。AttheheadoftheGullyisabigcow-byre，andthewallsoneithersideoftheGullyarewithoutwindows。NeitherSuchetSinghnorGaurChandapprovedoftheirwomen-folklookingintotheworld。IfDurgaCharanhadbeenoftheiropinion，hewouldhavebeenahappiermanto-day，andlittleBiessawouldhavebeenabletokneadherownbread。HerroomlookedoutthroughthegratedwindowintothenarrowdarkGullywherethesunnevercameandwherethebuffaloeswallowedintheblueslime。Shewasawidow，aboutfifteenyearsold，andsheprayedtheGods，dayandnight，tosendheralover；forshedidnotapproveoflivingalone。

Onedaytheman——Trejagohisnamewas——cameintoAmirNath"sGullyonanaimlesswandering；and，afterhehadpassedthebuffaloes，stumbledoverabigheapofcattlefood。

ThenhesawthattheGullyendedinatrap，andheardalittlelaughfrombehindthegratedwindow。Itwasaprettylittlelaugh，andTrejago，knowingthat，forallpracticalpurposes，theoldArabianNightsaregoodguides，wentforwardtothewindow，andwhisperedthatverseof“TheLoveSongofHarDyal“whichbegins:

CanamanstanduprightinthefaceofthenakedSun；

oraLoverinthePresenceofhisBeloved?

Ifmyfeetfailme，OHeartofmyHeart，amItoblame，beingblindedbytheglimpseofyourbeauty?

Therecamethefainttchinksofawoman"sbraceletsfrombehindthegrating，andalittlevoicewentonwiththesongatthefifthverse:

Alas！alas！CantheMoontelltheLotusofherlovewhentheGateofHeavenisshutandthecloudsgatherfortherains?

TheyhavetakenmyBeloved，anddrivenherwiththepack-horsestotheNorth。

Thereareironchainsonthefeetthatweresetonmyheart。

Calltothebowmantomakeready——

Thevoicestoppedsuddenly，andTrejagowalkedoutofAmirNath"sGully，wonderingwhointheworldcouldhavecapped“TheLoveSongofHarDyal“soneatly。

Nextmorning，ashewasdrivingtotheoffice，anoldwomanthrewapacketintohisdog-cart。Inthepacketwasthehalfofabrokenglassbangle，oneflowerofthebloodreddhak，apinchofbhusaorcattle-food，andelevencardamoms。Thatpacketwasaletter——notaclumsycompromisingletter，butaninnocent，unintelligiblelover"sepistle。

Trejagoknewfartoomuchaboutthesethings，asIhavesaid。NoEnglishmanshouldbeabletotranslateobject-letters。ButTrejagospreadallthetriflesonthelidofhisoffice-boxandbegantopuzzlethemout。

Abrokenglass-banglestandsforaHinduwidowallIndiaover；

because，whenherhusbanddiesawoman"sbraceletsarebrokenonherwrists。Trejagosawthemeaningofthelittlebitoftheglass。

Theflowerofthedhakmeansdiversely“desire，““come，““write，“or“danger，“accordingtotheotherthingswithit。Onecardamommeans“jealousy；“butwhenanyarticleisduplicatedinanobject-letter，itlosesitssymbolicmeaningandstandsmerelyforoneofanumberindicatingtime，or，ifincense，curds，orsaffronbesentalso，place。Themessageranthen:——“Awidowdhakflowerandbhusa——ateleveno"clock。”ThepinchofbhusaenlightenedTrejago。Hesaw——

thiskindofletterleavesmuchtoinstinctiveknowledge——thatthebhusareferredtothebigheapofcattle-foodoverwhichhehadfalleninAmirNath"sGully，andthatthemessagemustcomefromthepersonbehindthegrating；shebeingawidow。Sothemessageranthen:——“Awidow，intheGullyinwhichistheheapofbhusa，desiresyoutocomeateleveno"clock。”

Trejagothrewalltherubbishintothefireplaceandlaughed。HeknewthatmenintheEastdonotmakeloveunderwindowsatelevenintheforenoon，nordowomenfixappointmentsaweekinadvance。

Sohewent，thatverynightateleven，intoAmirNath"sGully，cladinaboorka，whichcloaksamanaswellasawoman。DirectlythegongsintheCitymadethehour，thelittlevoicebehindthegratingtookup“TheLoveSongofHarDyal“attheversewherethePanthangirlcallsuponHarDyaltoreturn。ThesongisreallyprettyintheVernacular。InEnglishyoumissthewailofit。Itrunssomethinglikethis:——

Aloneuponthehousetops，totheNorthIturnandwatchthelightninginthesky，——

TheglamourofthyfootstepsintheNorth，Comebacktome，Beloved，orIdie！

BelowmyfeetthestillbazarislaidFar，farbelowthewearycamelslie，——

Thecamelsandthecaptivesofthyraid，Comebacktome，Beloved，orIdie！

Myfather"swifeisoldandharshwithyears，Anddrudgeofallmyfather"shouseamI——

Mybreadissorrowandmydrinkistears，Comebacktome，Beloved，orIdie！

Asthesongstopped，Trejagosteppedupunderthegratingandwhispered:——“Iamhere。”

Bisesawasgoodtolookupon。

Thatnightwasthebeginningofmanystrangethings，andofadoublelifesowildthatTrejagoto-daysometimeswondersifitwerenotalladream。Bisesaorheroldhandmaidenwhohadthrowntheobject-letterhaddetachedtheheavygratingfromthebrick-workofthewall；sothatthewindowslidinside，leavingonlyasquareofrawmasonry，intowhichanactivemanmightclimb。

Intheday-time，Trejagodrovethroughhisroutineofoffice-work，orputonhiscalling-clothesandcalledontheladiesoftheStation；wonderinghowlongtheywouldknowhimiftheyknewofpoorlittleBisesa。Atnight，whenalltheCitywasstill，camethewalkundertheevil-smellingboorka，thepatrolthroughJithaMegji"sbustee，thequickturnintoAmirNath"sGullybetweenthesleepingcattleandthedeadwalls，andthen，lastofall，Bisesa，andthedeep，evenbreathingoftheoldwomanwhosleptoutsidethedoorofthebarelittleroomthatDurgaCharanallottedtohissister"sdaughter。WhoorwhatDurgaCharanwas，Trejagoneverinquired；andwhyintheworldhewasnotdiscoveredandknifedneveroccurredtohimtillhismadnesswasover，andBisesa……Butthiscomeslater。

BisesawasanendlessdelighttoTrejago。Shewasasignorantasabird；andherdistortedversionsoftherumorsfromtheoutsideworldthathadreachedherinherroom，amusedTrejagoalmostasmuchasherlispingattemptstopronouncehisname——“Christopher。”

Thefirstsyllablewasalwaysmorethanshecouldmanage，andshemadefunnylittlegestureswithherrose-leafhands，asonethrowingthenameaway，andthen，kneelingbeforeTrejago，askedhim，exactlyasanEnglishwomanwoulddo，ifheweresurehelovedher。Trejagosworethathelovedhermorethananyoneelseintheworld。Whichwastrue。

Afteramonthofthisfolly，theexigenciesofhisotherlifecompelledTrejagotobeespeciallyattentivetoaladyofhisacquaintance。Youmaytakeitforafactthatanythingofthiskindisnotonlynoticedanddiscussedbyaman"sownrace，butbysomehundredandfiftynativesaswell。TrejagohadtowalkwiththisladyandtalktoherattheBand-stand，andonceortwicetodrivewithher；neverforaninstantdreamingthatthiswouldaffecthisdearerout-of-the-waylife。Butthenewsflew，intheusualmysteriousfashion，frommouthtomouth，tillBisesa"sduennaheardofitandtoldBisesa。Thechildwassotroubledthatshedidthehouseholdworkevilly，andwasbeatenbyDurgaCharan"swifeinconsequence。

Aweeklater，BisesataxedTrejagowiththeflirtation。Sheunderstoodnogradationsandspokeopenly。TrejagolaughedandBisesastampedherlittlefeet——littlefeet，lightasmarigoldflowers，thatcouldlieinthepalmofaman"sonehand。

Muchthatiswrittenabout“Orientalpassionandimpulsiveness“isexaggeratedandcompiledatsecond-hand，butalittleofitistrue；

andwhenanEnglishmanfindsthatlittle，itisquiteasstartlingasanypassioninhisownproperlife。Bisesaragedandstormed，andfinallythreatenedtokillherselfifTrejagodidnotatoncedropthealienMemsahibwhohadcomebetweenthem。Trejagotriedtoexplain，andtoshowherthatshedidnotunderstandthesethingsfromaWesternstandpoint。Bisesadrewherselfup，andsaidsimply:

“Idonot。Iknowonlythis——itisnotgoodthatIshouldhavemadeyoudearerthanmyownhearttome，Sahib。YouareanEnglishman。

Iamonlyablackgirl“——shewasfairerthanbar-goldintheMint——

“andthewidowofablackman。”

Thenshesobbedandsaid:“ButonmysoulandmyMother"ssoul，I

loveyou。Thereshallnoharmcometoyou，whateverhappenstome。”

Trejagoarguedwiththechild，andtriedtosootheher，butsheseemedquiteunreasonablydisturbed。Nothingwouldsatisfyhersavethatallrelationsbetweenthemshouldend。Hewastogoawayatonce。Andhewent。Ashedroppedoutatthewindow，shekissedhisforeheadtwice，andhewalkedawaywondering。

Aweek，andthenthreeweeks，passedwithoutasignfromBisesa。

Trejago，thinkingthattherupturehadlastedquitelongenough，wentdowntoAmirNath"sGullyforthefifthtimeinthethreeweeks，hopingthathisrapatthesilloftheshiftinggratingwouldbeanswered。Hewasnotdisappointed。

Therewasayoungmoon，andonestreamoflightfelldownintoAmirNath"sGully，andstruckthegrating，whichwasdrawnawayasheknocked。Fromtheblackdark，Bisesaheldoutherarmsintothemoonlight。Bothhandshadbeencutoffatthewrists，andthestumpswerenearlyhealed。

Then，asBisesabowedherheadbetweenherarmsandsobbed，someoneintheroomgruntedlikeawildbeast，andsomethingsharp——knife，swordorspear——thrustatTrejagoinhisboorka。Thestrokemissedhisbody，butcutintooneofthemusclesofthegroin，andhelimpedslightlyfromthewoundfortherestofhisdays。

Thegratingwentintoitsplace。Therewasnosignwhateverfrominsidethehouse——nothingbutthemoonlightstriponthehighwall，andtheblacknessofAmirNath"sGullybehind。

ThenextthingTrejagoremembers，afterragingandshoutinglikeamadmanbetweenthosepitilesswalls，isthathefoundhimselfneartheriverasthedawnwasbreaking，threwawayhisboorkaandwenthomebareheaded。

Whatthetragedywas——whetherBisesahad，inafitofcauselessdespair，toldeverything，ortheintriguehadbeendiscoveredandshetorturedtotell，whetherDurgaCharanknewhisname，andwhatbecameofBisesa——Trejagodoesnotknowtothisday。Somethinghorriblehadhappened，andthethoughtofwhatitmusthavebeencomesuponTrejagointhenightnowandagain，andkeepshimcompanytillthemorning。OnespecialfeatureofthecaseisthathedoesnotknowwhereliesthefrontofDurgaCharan"shouse。Itmayopenontoacourtyardcommontotwoormorehouses，oritmayliebehindanyoneofthegatesofJithaMegji"sbustee。Trejagocannottell。

HecannotgetBisesa——poorlittleBisesa——backagain。HehaslostherintheCity，whereeachman"shouseisasguardedandasunknowableasthegrave；andthegratingthatopensintoAmirNath"sGullyhasbeenwalledup。

ButTrejagopayshiscallsregularly，andisreckonedaverydecentsortofman。

Thereisnothingpeculiarabouthim，exceptaslightstiffness，causedbyariding-strain，intherightleg。

INERROR。

Theyburntacorpseuponthesand——

Thelightshoneoutafar；

ItguidedhometheplungingboatsThatbeatfromZanzibar。

SpiritofFire，where"erThyaltarsrise。

ThouartLightofGuidancetooureyes！

SalsetteBoat-Song。

Thereishopeforamanwhogetspubliclyandriotouslydrunkmoreoftenthatheoughttodo；butthereisnohopeforthemanwhodrinkssecretlyandaloneinhisownhouse——themanwhoisneverseentodrink。

Thisisarule；sotheremustbeanexceptiontoproveit。

Moriarty"scasewasthatexception。

HewasaCivilEngineer，andtheGovernment，verykindly，puthimquitebyhimselfinanout-district，withnobodybutnativestotalktoandagreatdealofworktodo。Hedidhisworkwellinthefouryearshewasutterlyalone；buthepickeduptheviceofsecretandsolitarydrinking，andcameupoutofthewildernessmoreoldandwornandhaggardthanthedead-alivelifehadanyrighttomakehim。

Youknowthesayingthatamanwhohasbeenaloneinthejungleformorethanayearisneverquitesaneallhislifeafter。PeoplecreditedMoriarty"squeernessofmannerandmoodywaystothesolitude，andsaiditshowedhowGovernmentspoiltthefuturesofitsbestmen。Moriartyhadbuilthimselftheplinthofaverygodreputationinthebridge-dam-girderline。Butheknew，everynightoftheweek，thathewastakingstepstounderminethatreputationwithL。L。L。and“Christopher“andlittlenipsofliqueurs，andfilthofthatkind。Hehadasoundconstitutionandagreatbrain，orelsehewouldhavebrokendownanddiedlikeasickcamelinthedistrict，asbettermenhavedonebeforehim。

GovernmentorderedhimtoSimlaafterhehadcomeoutofthedesert；

andhewentupmeaningtotryforapostthenvacant。Thatseason，Mrs。Reiver——perhapsyouwillrememberher——wasintheheightofherpower，andmanymenlayunderheryoke。EverythingbadthatcouldbesaidhasalreadybeensaidaboutMrs。Reiver，inanothertale。

Moriartywasheavily-builtandhandsome，veryquietandnervouslyanxioustopleasehisneighborswhenhewasn"tsunkinabrownstudy。Hestartedagooddealatsuddennoisesorifspokentowithoutwarning；and，whenyouwatchedhimdrinkinghisglassofwateratdinner，youcouldseethehandshakealittle。Butallthiswasputdowntonervousness，andthequiet，steady，“sip-sip-

sip，fillandsip-sip-sip，again，“thatwentoninhisownroomwhenhewasbyhimself，wasneverknown。Whichwasmiraculous，seeinghoweverythinginaman"sprivatelifeispublicpropertyouthere。

Moriartywasdrawn，notintoMrs。Reiver"sset，becausetheywerenothissort，butintothepowerofMrs。Reiver，andhefelldowninfrontofherandmadeagoddessofher。Thiswasduetohiscomingfreshoutofthejungletoabigtown。Hecouldnotscalethingsproperlyorseewhowaswhat。

BecauseMrs。Reiverwascoldandhard，hesaidshewasstatelyanddignified。Becauseshehadnobrains，andcouldnottalkcleverly，hesaidshewasreservedandshy。Mrs。Reivershy！Becauseshewasunworthyofhonororreverencefromanyone，hereverencedherfromadistanceanddoweredherwithallthevirtuesintheBibleandmostofthoseinShakespeare。

Thisbig，dark，abstractedmanwhowassonervouswhenaponycanteredbehindhim，usedtomooninthetrainofMrs。Reiver，blushingwithpleasurewhenshethrewawordortwohisway。Hisadmirationwasstrictlyplatonic:evenotherwomensawandadmittedthis。HedidnotmoveoutinSimla，soheheardnothingagainsthisidol:whichwassatisfactory。Mrs。Reivertooknospecialnoticeofhim，beyondseeingthathewasaddedtoherlistofadmirers，andgoingforawalkwithhimnowandthen，justtoshowthathewasherproperty，claimableassuch。Moriartymusthavedonemostofthetalking，forMrs。Reivercouldn"ttalkmuchtoamanofhisstamp；

andthelittleshesaidcouldnothavebeenprofitable。WhatMoriartybelievedin，ashehadgoodreasonto，wasMrs。Reiver"sinfluenceoverhim，and，inthatbelief，sethimselfseriouslytotrytodoawaywiththevicethatonlyhehimselfknewof。

Hisexperienceswhilehewasfightingwithitmusthavebeenpeculiar，butheneverdescribedthem。Sometimeshewouldholdofffromeverythingexceptwaterforaweek。Then，onarainynight，whennoonehadaskedhimouttodinner，andtherewasabigfireinhisroom，andeverythingcomfortable，hewouldsitdownandmakeabignightofitbyaddinglittleniptolittlenip，planningbigschemesofreformationmeanwhile，untilhethrewhimselfonhisbedhopelesslydrunk。Hesufferednextmorning。

Onenight，thebigcrashcame。Hewastroubledinhisownmindoverhisattemptstomakehimself“worthyofthefriendship“ofMrs。

Reiver。Thepasttendayshadbeenverybadones，andtheendofitallwasthathereceivedthearrearsoftwoandthree-quarteryearsofsippinginoneattackofdeliriumtremensofthesubduedkind；

beginningwithsuicidaldepression，goingontofitsandstartsandhysteria，andendingwithdownrightraving。Ashesatinachairinfrontofthefire，orwalkedupanddowntheroompickingahandkerchieftopieces，youheardwhatpoorMoriartyreallythoughtofMrs。Reiver，forheravedaboutherandhisownfallforthemostpart；thoughheravelledsomeP。W。D。accountsintothesameskeinofthought。Hetalked，andtalked，andtalkedinalowdrywhispertohimself，andtherewasnostoppinghim。Heseemedtoknowthattherewassomethingwrong，andtwicetriedtopullhimselftogetherandconferrationallywiththeDoctor；buthismindranoutofcontrolatonce，andhefellbacktoawhisperandthestoryofhistroubles。Itisterribletohearabigmanbabblinglikeachildofallthatamanusuallylocksup，andputsawayinthedeepofhisheart。Moriartyreadouthisverysoulforthebenefitofanyonewhowasintheroombetweenten-thirtythatnightandtwo-forty-fivenextmorning。

Fromwhathesaid，onegatheredhowimmenseaninfluenceMrs。Reiverheldoverhim，andhowthoroughlyhefeltforhisownlapse。Hiswhisperingscannot，ofcourse，beputdownhere；buttheywereveryinstructiveasshowingtheerrorsofhisestimates……

Whenthetroublewasover，andhisfewacquaintanceswerepityinghimforthebadattackofjungle-feverthathadsopulledhimdown，MoriartysworeabigoathtohimselfandwentabroadagainwithMrs。

Reivertilltheendoftheseason，adoringherinaquietanddeferentialwayasanangelfromheaven。Lateronhetooktoriding——nothacking，buthonestriding——whichwasgoodproofthathewasimproving，andyoucouldslamdoorsbehindhimwithouthisjumpingtohisfeetwithagasp。That，again，washopeful。

Howhekepthisoath，andwhatitcosthiminthebeginning，nobodyknows。Hecertainlymanagedtocompassthehardestthingthatamanwhohasdrankheavilycando。Hetookhispegandwineatdinner，butheneverdrankalone，andneverletwhathedrankhavetheleastholdonhim。

Oncehetoldabosom-friendthestoryofhisgreattrouble，andhowthe“influenceofapurehonestwoman，andanangelaswell“hadsavedhim。Whentheman——startledatanythinggoodbeinglaidtoMrs。Reiver"sdoor——laughed，itcosthimMoriarty"sfriendship。

Moriarty，whoismarriednowtoawomantenthousandtimesbetterthanMrs。Reiver——awomanwhobelievesthatthereisnomanonearthasgoodandcleverasherhusband——willgodowntohisgravevowingandprotestingthatMrs。Reiversavedhimfromruininbothworlds。

ThatsheknewanythingofMoriarty"sweaknessnobodybelievedforamoment。Thatshewouldhavecuthimdead，thrownhimover，andacquaintedallherfriendswithherdiscovery，ifshehadknownofit，nobodywhoknewherdoubtedforaninstant。

Moriartythoughthersomethingsheneverwas，andinthatbeliefsavedhimself。Whichwasjustasgoodasthoughshehadbeeneverythingthathehadimagined。

Butthequestionis，whatclaimwillMrs。ReiverhavetothecreditofMoriarty"ssalvation，whenherdayofreckoningcomes?

ABANKFRAUD。

Hedrankstrongwatersandhisspeechwascoarse；

Hepurchasedraimentandforeboretopay；

Hestruckatrustingjuniorwithahorse，AndwonGymkhanasinadoubtfulway。

Then，"twixtaviceandfolly，turnedasideTodogooddeedsandstraighttocloakthem，lied。

TheMessRoom。

IfReggieBurkewereinIndianow，hewouldresentthistalebeingtold；butasheisinHong-Kongandwon"tseeit，thetellingissafe。HewasthemanwhoworkedthebigfraudontheSindandSialkoteBank。Hewasmanagerofanup-countryBranch，andasoundpracticalmanwithalargeexperienceofnativeloanandinsurancework。Hecouldcombinethefrivolitiesofordinarylifewithhiswork，andyetdowell。ReggieBurkerodeanythingthatwouldlethimgetup，dancedasneatlyasherode，andwaswantedforeverysortofamusementintheStation。

Ashesaidhimself，andasmanymenfoundoutrathertotheirsurprise，thereweretwoBurkes，bothverymuchatyourservice。

“ReggieBurke，“betweenfourandten，readyforanythingfromahot-

weathergymkhanatoariding-picnic；and，betweentenandfour，“Mr。

ReginaldBurke，ManageroftheSindandSialkoteBranchBank。”Youmightplaypolowithhimoneafternoonandhearhimexpresshisopinionswhenamancrossed；andyoumightcallonhimnextmorningtoraiseatwo-thousandrupeeloanonafivehundredpoundinsurance-policy，eightypoundspaidinpremiums。Hewouldrecognizeyou，butyouwouldhavesometroubleinrecognizinghim。

TheDirectorsoftheBank——ithaditsheadquartersinCalcuttaanditsGeneralManager"swordcarriedweightwiththeGovernment——

pickedtheirmenwell。TheyhadtestedReggieuptoafairlyseverebreaking-strain。TheytrustedhimjustasmuchasDirectorsevertrustManagers。Youmustseeforyourselfwhethertheirtrustwasmisplaced。

Reggie"sBranchwasinabigStation，andworkedwiththeusualstaff——oneManager，oneAccountant，bothEnglish，aCashier，andahordeofnativeclerks；besidesthePolicepatrolatnightsoutside。

Thebulkofitswork，foritwasinathrivingdistrict，washoondiandaccommodationofallkinds。Afoolhasnogripofthissortofbusiness；andaclevermanwhodoesnotgoaboutamonghisclients，andknowmorethanalittleoftheiraffairs，isworsethanafool。

Reggiewasyoung-looking，clean-shaved，withatwinkleinhiseye，andaheadthatnothingshortofagallonoftheGunners"Madeiracouldmakeanyimpressionon。

Oneday，atabigdinner，heannouncedcasuallythattheDirectorshadshiftedontohimaNaturalCuriosity，fromEngland，intheAccountantline。Hewasperfectlycorrect。Mr。SilasRiley，Accountant，wasaMOSTcuriousanimal——along，gawky，rawbonedYorkshireman，fullofthesavageself-conceitthatblossom"sonlyinthebestcountyinEngland。ArrogancewasamildwordforthementalattitudeofMr。S。Riley。Hehadworkedhimselfup，aftersevenyears，toaCashier"spositioninaHuddersfieldBank；andallhisexperiencelayamongthefactoriesoftheNorth。PerhapshewouldhavedonebetterontheBombayside，wheretheyarehappywithone-halfpercent。profits，andmoneyischeap。HewasuselessforUpperIndiaandawheatProvince，whereamanwantsalargeheadandatouchofimaginationifheistoturnoutasatisfactorybalance-

sheet。

Hewaswonderfullynarrow-mindedinbusiness，and，beingnewtothecountry，hadnonotionthatIndianbankingistotallydistinctfromHomework。Likemostcleverself-mademen，hehadmuchsimplicityinhisnature；and，somehoworother，hadconstruedtheordinarilypolitetermsofhisletterofengagementintoabeliefthattheDirectorshadchosenhimonaccountofhisspecialandbrillianttalents，andthattheysetgreatstorebyhim。Thisnotiongrewandcrystallized；thusaddingtohisnaturalNorth-countryconceit。

Further，hewasdelicate，sufferedfromsometroubleinhischest，andwasshortinhistemper。

YouwilladmitthatReggiehadreasontocallhisnewAccountantaNaturalCuriosity。Thetwomenfailedtohititoffatall。RileyconsideredReggieawild，feather-headedidiot，giventoHeavenonlyknewwhatdissipationinlowplacescalled“Messes，“andtotallyunfitfortheseriousandsolemnvocationofbanking。HecouldnevergetoverReggie"slookofyouthand“you-be-damned“air；andhecouldn"tunderstandReggie"sfriends——clean-built，carelessmenintheArmy——whorodeovertobigSundaybreakfastsattheBank，andtoldsultrystoriestillRileygotupandlefttheroom。RileywasalwaysshowingReggiehowthebusinessoughttobeconducted，andReggiehadmorethanoncetoremindhimthatsevenyears"limitedexperiencebetweenHuddersfieldandBeverlydidnotqualifyamantosteerabigup-countrybusiness。ThenRileysulkedandreferredtohimselfasapillaroftheBankandacherishedfriendoftheDirectors，andReggietorehishair。Ifaman"sEnglishsubordinatesfailhiminthiscountry，hecomestoahardtimeindeed，fornativehelphasstrictlimitations。InthewinterRileywentsickforweeksatatimewithhislungcomplaint，andthisthrewmoreworkonReggie。ButhepreferredittotheeverlastingfrictionwhenRileywaswell。

OneoftheTravellingInspectorsoftheBankdiscoveredthesecollapsesandreportedthemtotheDirectors。NowRileyhadbeenfoistedontheBankbyanM。P。，whowantedthesupportofRiley"sfather，who，again，wasanxioustogethissonouttoawarmerclimatebecauseofthoselungs。TheM。P。hadaninterestintheBank；butoneoftheDirectorswantedtoadvanceanomineeofhisown；and，afterRiley"sfatherhaddied，hemadetherestoftheBoardseethatanAccountantwhowassickforhalftheyear，hadbettergiveplacetoahealthyman。IfRileyhadknowntherealstoryofhisappointment，hemighthavebehavedbetter；butknowingnothing，hisstretchesofsicknessalternatedwithrestless，persistent，meddlingirritationofReggie，andallthehundredwaysinwhichconceitinasubordinatesituationcanfindplay。Reggieusedtocallhimstrikingandhair-curlingnamesbehindhisbackasarelieftohisownfeelings；butheneverabusedhimtohisface，becausehesaid:“Rileyissuchafrailbeastthathalfofhisloathsomeconceitisduetopainsinthechest。”

LateoneApril，Rileywentverysickindeed。Thedoctorpunchedhimandthumpedhim，andtoldhimhewouldbebetterbeforelong。ThenthedoctorwenttoReggieandsaid:——“DoyouknowhowsickyourAccountantis?““No！“saidReggie——“Theworsethebetter，confoundhim！He"saclackingnuisancewhenhe"swell。I"llletyoutakeawaytheBankSafeifyoucandrughimsilentforthishot-weather。”

Butthedoctordidnotlaugh——“Man，I"mnotjoking，“hesaid。“I"llgivehimanotherthreemonthsinhisbedandaweekorsomoretodiein。Onmyhonorandreputationthat"sallthegracehehasinthisworld。Consumptionhasholdofhimtothemarrow。”

Reggie"sfacechangedatonceintothefaceof“Mr。ReginaldBurke，“

andheanswered:——“WhatcanIdo?“

“Nothing，“saidthedoctor。“Forallpracticalpurposesthemanisdeadalready。Keephimquietandcheerfulandtellhimhe"sgoingtorecover。That"sall。I"lllookafterhimtotheend，ofcourse。”

Thedoctorwentaway，andReggiesatdowntoopentheeveningmail。

HisfirstletterwasonefromtheDirectors，intimatingforhisinformationthatMr。Rileywastoresign，underamonth"snotice，bythetermsofhisagreement，tellingReggiethattheirlettertoRileywouldfollowandadvisingReggieofthecomingofanewAccountant，amanwhomReggieknewandliked。

Reggielitacheroot，and，beforehehadfinishedsmoking，hehadsketchedtheoutlineofafraud。Heputaway——“burked“——theDirectorsletter，andwentintotalktoRiley，whowasasungraciousasusual，andfrettinghimselfoverthewaythebankwouldrunduringhisillness。HeneverthoughtoftheextraworkonReggie"sshoulders，butsolelyofthedamagetohisownprospectsofadvancement。ThenReggieassuredhimthateverythingwouldbewell，andthathe，Reggie，wouldconferwithRileydailyonthemanagementoftheBank。Rileywasalittlesoothed，buthehintedinasmanywordsthathedidnotthinkmuchofReggie"sbusinesscapacity。

Reggiewashumble。AndhehadlettersinhisdeskfromtheDirectorsthataGilbarteoraHardiemighthavebeenproudof！

Thedayspassedinthebigdarkenedhouse，andtheDirectors"letterofdismissaltoRileycameandwasputawaybyReggie，who，everyevening，broughtthebookstoRiley"sroom，andshowedhimwhathadbeengoingforward，whileRileysnarled。ReggiedidhisbesttomakestatementspleasingtoRiley，buttheAccountantwassurethattheBankwasgoingtorackandruinwithouthim。InJune，asthelyinginbedtoldonhisspirit，heaskedwhetherhisabsencehadbeennotedbytheDirectors，andReggiesaidthattheyhadwrittenmostsympatheticletters，hopingthathewouldbeabletoresumehisvaluableservicesbeforelong。HeshowedRileytheletters:andRileysaidthattheDirectorsoughttohavewrittentohimdirect。

Afewdayslater，ReggieopenedRiley"smailinthehalf-lightoftheroom，andgavehimthesheet——nottheenvelope——ofalettertoRileyfromtheDirectors。RileysaidhewouldthankReggienottointerferewithhisprivatepapers，speciallyasReggieknewhewastooweaktoopenhisownletters。Reggieapologized。

ThenRiley"smoodchanged，andhelecturedReggieonhisevilways:

hishorsesandhisbadfriends。“Ofcourse，lyinghereonmyback，Mr。Burke，Ican"tkeepyoustraight；butwhenI"mwell，IDOhopeyou"llpaysomeheedtomywords。”Reggie，whohaddroppedpolo，anddinners，andtennis，andalltoattendtoRiley，saidthathewaspenitentandsettledRiley"sheadonthepillowandheardhimfretandcontradictinhard，dry，hackingwhispers，withoutasignofimpatience。Thisattheendofaheavyday"sofficework，doingdoubleduty，inthelatterhalfofJune。

WhenthenewAccountantcame，Reggietoldhimthefactsofthecase，andannouncedtoRileythathehadagueststayingwithhim。Rileysaidthathemighthavehadmoreconsiderationthantoentertainhis“doubtfulfriends“atsuchatime。ReggiemadeCarron，thenewAccountant，sleepattheClubinconsequence。Carron"sarrivaltooksomeoftheheavyworkoffhisshoulders，andhehadtimetoattendtoRiley"sexactions——toexplain，soothe，invent，andsettleandresettlethepoorwretchinbed，andtoforgecomplimentarylettersfromCalcutta。Attheendofthefirstmonth，Rileywishedtosendsomemoneyhometohismother。Reggiesentthedraft。Attheendofthesecondmonth，Riley"ssalarycameinjustthesame。Reggiepaiditoutofhisownpocket；and，withit，wroteRileyabeautifulletterfromtheDirectors。

Rileywasveryillindeed，buttheflameofhislifeburntunsteadily。Nowandthenhewouldbecheerfulandconfidentaboutthefuture，sketchingplansforgoingHomeandseeinghismother。

Reggielistenedpatientlywhentheofficeworkwasover，andencouragedhim。

AtothertimesRileyinsistedonReggie"sreadingtheBibleandgrim“Methody“tractstohim。OutofthesetractshepointedmoralsdirectedathisManager。ButhealwaysfoundtimetoworryReggieabouttheworkingoftheBank，andtoshowhimwheretheweakpointslay。

Thisin-door，sick-roomlifeandconstantstrainsworeReggiedownagooddeal，andshookhisnerves，andloweredhisbilliard-playbyfortypoints。ButthebusinessoftheBank，andthebusinessofthesick-room，hadtogoon，thoughtheglasswas116degreesintheshade。

Attheendofthethirdmonth，Rileywassinkingfast，andhadbeguntorealizethathewasverysick。ButtheconceitthatmadehimworryReggie，kepthimfrombelievingtheworst。“Hewantssomesortofmentalstimulantifheistodragon，“saidthedoctor。

“Keephiminterestedinlifeifyoucareabouthisliving。”SoRiley，contrarytoallthelawsofbusinessandthefinance，receiveda25-per-cent，riseofsalaryfromtheDirectors。The“mentalstimulant“succeededbeautifully。Rileywashappyandcheerful，and，asisoftenthecaseinconsumption，healthiestinmindwhenthebodywasweakest。Helingeredforafullmonth，snarlingandfrettingabouttheBank，talkingofthefuture，hearingtheBibleread，lecturingReggieonsin，andwonderingwhenhewouldbeabletomoveabroad。

ButattheendofSeptember，onemercilesslyhotevening，heroseupinhisbedwithalittlegasp，andsaidquicklytoReggie:——“Mr。

Burke，Iamgoingtodie。Iknowitinmyself。Mychestisallhollowinside，andthere"snothingtobreathewith。TothebestofmyknowledgeIhavedonenowt“——hewasreturningtothetalkofhisboyhood——“tolieheavyonmyconscience。Godbethanked，Ihavebeenpreservedfromthegrosserformsofsin；andIcounselYOU，Mr。

Burke……”

Herehisvoicedieddown，andReggiestoopedoverhim。

“SendmysalaryforSeptembertomymother……donegreatthingswiththeBankifIhadbeenspared……mistakenpolicy……

nofaultofmine。”

Thenheturnedhisfacetothewallanddied。

ReggiedrewthesheetoverItsface，andwentoutintotheverandah，withhislast“mentalstimulant“——aletterofcondolenceandsympathyfromtheDirectors——unusedinhispocket。

“IfI"dbeenonlytenminutesearlier，“thoughtReggie，“Imighthaveheartenedhimuptopullthroughanotherday。”

TOD"SAMENDMENT。

TheWorldhathsetitsheavyyokeUpontheoldwhite-beardedfolkWhostrivetopleasetheKing。

God"smercyisupontheyoung，God"swisdominthebabytongueThatfearsnotanything。

TheParableofChajjuBhagat。

NowTods"Mammawasasingularlycharmingwoman，andeveryoneinSimlaknewTods。Mostmenhadsavedhimfromdeathonoccasions。

Hewasbeyondhisayah"scontrolaltogether，andperilledhislifedailytofindoutwhatwouldhappenifyoupulledaMountainBatterymule"stail。HewasanutterlyfearlessyoungPagan，aboutsixyearsold，andtheonlybabywhoeverbroketheholycalmofthesupremeLegislativeCouncil。

Ithappenedthisway:Tods"petkidgotloose，andfledupthehill，offtheBoileaugungeRoad，Todsafterit，untilitburstintotheViceregalLodgelawn，thenattachedto“Peterhoff。”TheCouncilweresittingatthetime，andthewindowswereopenbecauseitwaswarm。TheRedLancerintheporchtoldTodstogoaway；butTodsknewtheRedLancerandmostoftheMembersofCouncilpersonally。

Moreover，hehadfirmholdofthekid"scollar，andwasbeingdraggedallacrosstheflower-beds。“GivemysalaamtothelongCouncillorSahib，andaskhimtohelpmetakeMotiback！“gaspedTods。TheCouncilheardthenoisethroughtheopenwindows；and，afteraninterval，wasseentheshockingspectacleofaLegalMemberandaLieutenant-Governorhelping，underthedirectpatronageofaCommander-in-ChiefandaViceroy，onesmallandverydirtyboyinasailor"ssuitandatangleofbrownhair，tocoercealivelyandrebelliouskid。TheyheadeditoffdownthepathtotheMall，andTodswenthomeintriumphandtoldhisMammathatALLtheCouncillorSahibshadbeenhelpinghimtocatchMoti。WhereathisMammasmackedTodsforinterferingwiththeadministrationoftheEmpire；

butTodsmettheLegalMemberthenextday，andtoldhiminconfidencethatiftheLegalMembereverwantedtocatchagoat，he，Tods，wouldgivehimallthehelpinhispower。“Thankyou，Tods，“

saidtheLegalMember。

Todswastheidolofsomeeightyjhampanis，andhalfasmanysaises。

Hesalutedthemallas“OBrother。”Itneverenteredhisheadthatanylivinghumanbeingcoulddisobeyhisorders；andhewasthebufferbetweentheservantsandhisMamma"swrath。TheworkingofthathouseholdturnedonTods，whowasadoredbyeveryonefromthedhobytothedog-boy。EvenFuttehKhan，thevillainousloaferkhitfromMussoorie，shirkedriskingTods"displeasureforfearhisco-

matesshouldlookdownonhim。

SoTodshadhonorinthelandfromBoileaugungetoChotaSimla，andruledjustlyaccordingtohislights。Ofcourse，hespokeUrdu，buthehadalsomasteredmanyqueerside-speecheslikethechoteeboleeofthewomen，andheldgraveconversewithshopkeepersandHill-

cooliesalike。Hewasprecociousforhisage，andhismixingwithnativeshadtaughthimsomeofthemorebittertruthsoflife；themeannessandthesordidnessofit。Heused，overhisbreadandmilk，todeliversolemnandseriousaphorisms，translatedfromthevernacularintotheEnglish，thatmadehisMammajumpandvowthatTodsMUSTgohomenexthotweather。

JustwhenTodswasinthebloomofhispower，theSupremeLegislaturewerehackingoutaBill，fortheSub-MontaneTracts，arevisionofthethenAct，smallerthanthePunjabLandBill，butaffectingafewhundredthousandpeoplenonetheless。TheLegalMemberhadbuilt，andbolstered，andembroidered，andamendedthatBill，tillitlookedbeautifulonpaper。ThentheCouncilbegantosettlewhattheycalledthe“minordetails。”AsifanyEnglishmanlegislatingfornativesknowsenoughtoknowwhicharetheminorandwhicharethemajorpoints，fromthenativepointofview，ofanymeasure！ThatBillwasatriumphof“safeguardingtheinterestsofthetenant。”Oneclauseprovidedthatlandshouldnotbeleasedonlongertermsthanfiveyearsatastretch；because，ifthelandlordhadatenantbounddownfor，say，twentyyears，hewouldsqueezetheverylifeoutofhim。ThenotionwastokeepupastreamofindependentcultivatorsintheSub-MontaneTracts；andethnologicallyandpoliticallythenotionwascorrect。Theonlydrawbackwasthatitwasaltogetherwrong。Anative"slifeinIndiaimpliesthelifeofhisson。Wherefore，youcannotlegislateforonegenerationatatime。Youmustconsiderthenextfromthenativepointofview。Curiouslyenough，thenativenowandthen，andinNorthernIndiamoreparticularly，hatesbeingover-protectedagainsthimself。TherewasaNagavillageonce，wheretheylivedondeadANDburiedCommissariatmules……Butthatisanotherstory。

Formanyreasons，tobeexplainedlater，thepeopleconcernedobjectedtotheBill。TheNativeMemberinCouncilknewasmuchaboutPunjabisasheknewaboutCharingCross。HehadsaidinCalcuttathat“theBillwasentirelyinaccordwiththedesiresofthatlargeandimportantclass，thecultivators；“andsoon，andsoon。TheLegalMember"sknowledgeofnativeswaslimitedtoEnglish-

speakingDurbaris，andhisownredchaprassis，theSub-MontaneTractsconcernednooneinparticular，theDeputyCommissionerswereagooddealtoodriventomakerepresentations，andthemeasurewasonewhichdealtwithsmalllandholdersonly。Nevertheless，theLegalMemberprayedthatitmightbecorrect，forhewasanervouslyconscientiousman。Hedidnotknowthatnomancantellwhatnativesthinkunlesshemixeswiththemwiththevarnishoff。Andnotalwaysthen。Buthedidthebestheknew。AndthemeasurecameuptotheSupremeCouncilforthefinaltouches，whileTodspatrolledtheBurraSimlaBazarinhismorningrides，andplayedwiththemonkeybelongingtoDittaMull，thebunnia，andlistened，asachildlistenstoallthestraytalkaboutthisnewfreakoftheLatSahib"s。

Onedaytherewasadinner-party，atthehouseofTods"Mamma，andtheLegalMembercame。Todswasinbed，buthekeptawaketillheheardtheburstsoflaughterfromthemenoverthecoffee。Thenhepaddledoutinhislittleredflanneldressing-gownandhisnight-

suit，andtookrefugebythesideofhisfather，knowingthathewouldnotbesentback。“Seethemiseriesofhavingafamily！“saidTods"father，givingTodsthreeprunes，somewaterinaglassthathadbeenusedforclaret，andtellinghimtositstill。Todssuckedtheprunesslowly，knowingthathewouldhavetogowhentheywerefinished，andsippedthepinkwaterlikeamanoftheworld，ashelistenedtotheconversation。Presently，theLegalMember，talking“shop，“totheHeadofaDepartment，mentionedhisBillbyitsfullname——“TheSub-MontaneTractsRyotwariRevisedEnactment。”Todscaughttheonenativeword，andliftinguphissmallvoicesaid:——

“Oh，IknowALLaboutthat！Hasitbeenmurramuttedyet，CouncillorSahib?“

“Howmuch?“saidtheLegalMember。

“Murramutted——mended——Puttheek，youknow——madenicetopleaseDittaMull！“

TheLegalMemberlefthisplaceandmovedupnexttoTods。

“WhatdoyouknowaboutRyotwari，littleman?“hesaid。

“I"mnotalittleman，I"mTods，andIknowALLaboutit。DittaMull，andChogaLall，andAmirNath，and——oh，lakhsofmyfriendstellmeaboutitinthebazarswhenItalktothem。”

“Oh，theydo——dothey?Whatdotheysay，Tods?“

Todstuckedhisfeetunderhisredflanneldressing-gownandsaid:——

“Imustfink。”

TheLegalMemberwaitedpatiently。ThenTods，withinfinitecompassion:

“Youdon"tspeakmytalk，doyou，CouncillorSahib?“

“No；IamsorrytosayIdonot，“saidtheLegal"Member。

“Verywell，“saidTods。“ImustfinkinEnglish。”

Hespentaminuteputtinghisideasinorder，andbeganveryslowly，translatinginhismindfromthevernaculartoEnglish，asmanyAnglo-Indianchildrendo。YoumustrememberthattheLegalMemberhelpedhimonbyquestionswhenhehalted，forTodswasnotequaltothesustainedflightoforatorythatfollows。

“DittaMullsays:——"Thisthingisthetalkofachild，andwasmadeupbyfools。"ButIdon"tthinkyouareafool，CouncillorSahib，“

saidTodds，hastily。“Youcaughtmygoat。ThisiswhatDittaMullsays:——"Iamnotafool，andwhyshouldtheSirkarsayIamachild?

Icanseeifthelandisgoodandifthelandlordisgood。IfIamafool，thesinisuponmyownhead。ForfiveyearsItakemygroundforwhichIhavesavedmoney，andawifeItaketoo，andalittlesonisborn。"DittaMullhasonedaughternow，butheSAYS

hewillhaveason，soon。Andhesays:"Attheendoffiveyears，bythisnewbundobust，Imustgo。IfIdonotgo，Imustgetfreshsealsandtakkus-stampsonthepapers，perhapsinthemiddleoftheharvest，andtogotothelaw-courtsonceiswisdom，buttogotwiceisJehannum。"ThatisQUITEtrue，“explainedTods，gravely。“Allmyfriendssayso。AndDittaMullsays:——"Alwaysfreshtakkusandpayingmoneytovakilsandchaprassisandlaw-courtseveryfiveyearsorelsethelandlordmakesmego。WhydoIwanttogo?AmI

fool?IfIamafoolanddonotknow，afterfortyyears，goodlandwhenIseeit，letmedie！ButifthenewbundobustsaysforFIFTEENyears，thenitisgoodandwise。Mylittlesonisaman，andIamburnt，andhetakesthegroundoranotherground，payingonlyonceforthetakkus-stampsonthepapers，andhislittlesonisborn，andattheendoffifteenyearsisamantoo。Butwhatprofitisthereinfiveyearsandfreshpapers?Nothingbutdikh，trouble，dikh。Wearenotyoungmenwhotaketheselands，butoldones——notjais，buttradesmenwithalittlemoney——andforfifteenyearsweshallhavepeace。NorarewechildrenthattheSirkarshouldtreatusso。”

HereTodsstoppedshort，forthewholetablewerelistening。TheLegalMembersaidtoTods:“Isthatall?“

“AllIcanremember，“saidTods。“ButyoushouldseeDittaMull"sbigmonkey。It"sjustlikeaCouncillorSahib。”

“Tods！Gotobed，“saidhisfather。

Todsgathereduphisdressing-gowntailanddeparted。

TheLegalMemberbroughthishanddownonthetablewithacrash——

“ByJove！“saidtheLegalMember，“Ibelievetheboyisright。TheshorttenureIStheweakpoint。”

Heleftearly，thinkingoverwhatTodshadsaid。Now，itwasobviouslyimpossiblefortheLegalMembertoplaywithabunnia"smonkey，bywayofgettingunderstanding；buthedidbetter。Hemadeinquiries，alwaysbearinginmindthefactthattherealnative——notthehybrid，University-trainedmule——isastimidasacolt，and，littlebylittle，hecoaxedsomeofthemenwhomthemeasureconcernedmostintimatelytogiveintheirviews，whichsquaredverycloselywithTods"evidence。

SotheBillwasamendedinthatclause；andtheLegalMemberwasfilledwithanuneasysuspicionthatNativeMembersrepresentverylittleexcepttheOrderstheycarryontheirbosoms。Butheputthethoughtfromhimasilliberal。HewasamostLiberalMan。

AfteratimethenewsspreadthroughthebazarsthatTodshadgottheBillrecastinthetenureclause，andifTods"Mammahadnotinterfered，TodswouldhavemadehimselfsickonthebasketsoffruitandpistachionutsandCabuligrapesandalmondsthatcrowdedtheverandah。TillhewentHome，TodsrankedsomefewdegreesbeforetheViceroyinpopularestimation。ButforthelittlelifeofhimTodscouldnotunderstandwhy。

IntheLegalMember"sprivate-paper-boxstillliestheroughdraftoftheSub-MontaneTractsRyotwariRevisedEnactment；and，oppositethetwenty-secondclause，pencilledinbluechalk，andsignedbytheLegalMember，arethewords“Tods"Amendment。”

INTHEPRIDEOFHISYOUTH。

“Stoppedinthestraightwhentheracewashisown！

Lookathimcuttingit——curtothebone！“

“Askeretheyoungsterberatedandchidden，Whatdidhecarryandhowwasheridden?

Maybetheyusedhimtoomuchatthestart；

MaybeFate"sweight-clothsarebreakinghisheart。”

Life"sHandicap。

WhenIwastellingyouofthejokethatTheWormplayedoffontheSeniorSubaltern，Ipromisedasomewhatsimilartale，butwithallthejestleftout。Thisisthattale:

DickyHattwaskidnappedinhisearly，earlyyouth——neitherbylandlady"sdaughter，housemaid，barmaid，norcook，butbyagirlsonearlyofhisowncastethatonlyawomancouldhavesaidshewasjusttheleastlittlebitintheworldbelowit。ThishappenedamonthbeforehecameouttoIndia，andfivedaysafterhisone-and-

twentiethbirthday。Thegirlwasnineteen——sixyearsolderthanDickyinthethingsofthisworld，thatistosay——and，forthetime，twiceasfoolishashe。

Excepting，always，fallingoffahorsethereisnothingmorefatallyeasythanmarriagebeforetheRegistrar。Theceremonycostslessthanfiftyshillings，andisremarkablylikewalkingintoapawn-

shop。Afterthedeclarationsofresidencehavebeenputin，fourminuteswillcovertherestoftheproceedings——fees，attestation，andall。ThentheRegistrarslidestheblotting-padoverthenames，andsaysgrimly，withhispenbetweenhisteeth:——“Nowyou"remanandwife；“andthecouplewalkoutintothestreet，feelingasifsomethingwerehorriblyillegalsomewhere。