Morris, being off duty, as he termed it, walked down the road to clear
his head a little of mathematical calculations, as well as to devise an
examination paper intended for the improvement of his pupils; not that
he looked upon it in that light, for as soon as he had mentally got it
into shape, ready for committing to paper, he laughed to himself and
rubbed his white hands over and over again in his intense satisfaction.
"That will puzzle their brains," he said maliciously. "That will give
some of them a headache;" and as he spoke, on his way back, he suddenly
awakened to the fact that he was just coming to the damaged hedge, where
a couple of men were for the second time, by Ramball's orders,
restaking, half-cutting through, and bending down for interlacing
purposes sturdy old growths of hawthorn.
The next moment he was conscious of the fact that Professor Barclay, who
looked particularly neat, refined, and clean, was coming up to him with
a most friendly smile and with extended hand.
The Professor was clean-shaven, wore his hair cut very short, and from
his hat to his boots he was spotless; but somehow or other there was a
suggestion that the profession of Sanskrit did not result in the
possession of wealth, for the Professor's hat was not so new as it had
been once, one of his well-polished boots had a smile in its upper
leather just where the little toe pressed outwards, there was a
suggestion about his very stiff shirt-collar of the growth of saw-like
teeth that might be very unpleasant if they came in contact with his
ears, while his tightly buttoned-up frock-coat, which looked very nice
in front, had grown extremely shiny in two places at the back where the
wearer's blade-bones were prominent.
Morris took the extended hand and shook it, but not half so
affectionately as the Professor shook his, while agreeing very simply
that the day was remarkably fine; and then, oddly enough, Morris, though
the Professor gave him no reason for his thoughts in words, began
thinking of a quiet little place in the town where modest dinners were
provided, one of which Morris did not require in the least, inasmuch as
a repast would be provided for him gratuitously in the Doctor's
establishment. Item, he began thinking, too, of half-crowns. But his
thoughts were turned in another direction by the Professor.
"So this is the spot," he said, "where the elephant broke through?"
"Yes," said Morris eagerly; "great mischievous beast! It will be a good
thing when it's out of the town."
"Exactly," said the Professor, "unless the proprietor had some one to
manage it who understood its ways. Is it true, as I have heard, that
the young Prince and his friend and fellow-pupil controlled the huge
beast by giving it orders in Hindustani?"
"Oh yes," said Morris, smiling now, as he ridded himself of thoughts of
cheap dinners and half-crowns.
"Well, I am not surprised," continued the Professor; "but it was a pity
I was not there."
"Pity you were not there?" said Morris, making a suggestion with his
hand preparatory to saying "good-bye--can't stop," and then telling
something very much like a fib; for it was in his mind to say, "So glad
to have met you."
"Yes," said the Professor nonchalantly, "you see, I know Hindustani
thoroughly; and though I suppose my pronunciation would be faulty in the
ears of a native, I could very well make myself understood."
"Ah, yes," said Morris hastily; "so I should suppose; but--er--you will
excuse me?" And he glanced at his watch. "I am afraid I must be back
at the college. It is close upon dinner-time."
The Professor sighed and inadvertently sniffed as poor boys sniff who
are passing cookshops.
"In a moment, my dear friend. I will not detain you; but I will walk
with you as far as the college. It will be in my way. You see, just
when one wants them most, important letters--important pecuniary
letters--have such a bad habit of being delayed."
Morris coughed.
"Now, nothing could have happened better for me than that I should have
met you, a brother-student; though we follow divergent lines, you for
the attainment of mathematical precision, I for the diffusion of Eastern
lore, you of all men seem to have extended towards me a kindly
interest."
"Oh, well, that was perfectly natural," said Morris feebly, as,
inadvertently he thrust his right hand into his pocket, started,
coloured, and withdrew it quickly.
"Now," continued the Professor, "I want you to give me your advice about
seeing the Doctor again."
Morris shook his head.
"Ah, I see what you are thinking; but that was for a permanent post.
Now, don't you think he might accept my services, say, for a
non-resident and three days a week?"
"No," said Morris, "I am sure he wouldn't. Your coming made Rampson
dreadfully jealous, and he told me afterwards that the Doctor assured
him that he should make no change."
"Well, say one day a week."
Morris shook his head again and looked down the road, as if hoping that
some one would come and rescue him from his position.
"Don't speak in haste," said the Professor, taking him with finger and
thumb by the plaited guard of silk, as if he had intentions upon the
watch--not to know the time.
"I am obliged to speak in haste," replied Morris. "You see, it is so
near--"
"Exactly--dinner-time. But for Sanskrit, a lesson a week--"
"The Doctor declared he should not introduce Sanskrit in the curriculum
of study."
"Dear, dear! And with that young Eastern Prince in the establishment,
and his companion the son of that magnificent old Colonel with the
wondrous moustache!" And as he spoke the Professor passed his hand over
his closely shaven upper lip. "Well, well, the Doctor knows his own
business best; but I must confess that I am disappointed, my dear
friend."
"I am very, very sorry," said Morris, drawing back a little; and as the
guard tightened, and the watch began to rise out of his pocket, he gave
way again and the watch sank down.
So did its owner's spirits, for the Professor continued:
"Don't you think I might go back with you to the college and call upon
the Doctor once more?"
"No, that I don't," said Morris hastily; "for almost directly he will be
going into the dining-hall."
"Well, what would that matter? Country hospitality and--you understand.
But there, if you think the time adverse, I certainly would not
presume. But, by the way, would you believe it, that letter has not
come this morning?"
"Yes," said Morris faintly. "You said so just now."
"And it puts me to the greatest inconvenience. I am almost ashamed to
ask you."
"Would that you were quite!" thought Morris.
"But would you mind--say a couple of half-crowns--a mere trifle, and the
moment the letter comes--really, I think it must be stuck in the
post-office somewhere from wrong direction. Is there another
Plymborough in England?"
"Oh no; this is the only one."
"Yes, two half-crowns, and the moment the letter arrives I shall hurry
to you to repay you with many thanks, your kindly interest in my
welfare."
"And the other two?"
"Oh, of course," said the Professor. "The-ank you. Some day, my dear
Morris, I hope and believe--But, by the way, that young Prince: I could
not help taking the greatest interest in what he told me. It came
naturally as the result of questions and in conversation upon the beauty
of Eastern costume. I remember saying to him, `Why are not you, a young
Eastern potentate, robed in the resplendent garments of your country,
wearing a picturesque helmet, plumed, and decked with gorgeous jewels?
I remember,' I said, `a visit paid by the Nawab of Puttyputty when I was
one of the masters at the college at Longbourne. He was magnificently
dressed, a most picturesque figure amongst the gentlemen, who in their
sombre black looked like so many waiters. I remember he wore a
resplendent belt, the clasps of which were formed of gigantic emeralds
engraved with Eastern characters--Sanskrit, I believe, though I never
had them in my hand.' And the boy proudly told me that he possessed
just such a one, though he never wore it, because it would not be
suitable with modern English costume. All a boy's romance, I suppose--
recollections of the _Arabian Nights_."
"Oh no," said Morris; "it is quite true."
"Dear me," said the Professor, "what an opportunity! Why, I would give
worlds to see it," he added with a laugh. "It has been one of the
regrets of my life that I did not ask the Nawab's permission to inspect
those clasps. To my thinking, the inscriptions must have been of that
so-called talismanic kind in which these weak heathen believe. Now, do
you think it possible that you could prevail upon your young friend--"
"Oh no, I am sure I couldn't," said Morris, trying hard to read the
distant church clock.
"But say you convey to him my invitation, and ask him to bring the belt
to my rooms one afternoon."
"Oh, really I--"
"Oh, such a simple thing--educational, and--I beg your pardon, you must
go? Of course. I am afraid I have been prolix; but my dear Morris,
bear that in mind. A little discussion upon those inscriptions would be
beneficial to the boy--I could tell him things he would be proud to
know--and it would enable me to send a profitable description to the
newspapers.--Yes, good-bye till we meet again."
They separated, and the Professor walked slowly away, with his attention
equally balanced between recollections of the Nawab's clasps and the
last little dinner he had eaten at the country refreshment-house at
Morris's expense, what time he played a pleasant little game of raising
one half-crown from where it lay upon its fellow at the bottom of his
pocket and letting it fall again with an agreeable chink.