I remember feeling a kind of angry contempt for the magnificently
dressed men who bowed down before this eastern potentate, and I believe
I drew myself up stiffly in face of all this abject humility. I suppose
it was pride--the pride of race; of one who knew that these were a
conquered people, men of an old-world, barbaric civilisation, which had
had to bow before the culture and advance of England; and in the midst
of all the gorgeous display of show and wealth, I could not help, as I
clasped hands with the rajah, thinking of the syce, Ny Deen, standing
patient and humble by our barracks at Rajgunge, ready to spring forward
obediently at Lieutenant Barton's call.
As the rajah grasped my hand with friendly warmth, I glanced round at
his followers, expecting to see looks of contempt directed at me; but
every face was fixed in one solemn, respectful stare, and all drew back,
so as to form a half-circle before us, while the rajah led me to the
tent, making way for me to enter first, and then following.
I could feel my face flush a little, and it was impossible to help a
kind of self-consciousness at the honour paid me; for it was plain
enough that the rajah was not only treating me before his followers as
his friend, but as one whom he was seeking to place next him in
authority.
"Hah!" he said, smiling, as he seated himself, after making a sign that
I should follow his example; "I am glad there are refreshments. I am
hungry after a long, tiring day. You are better?"
"Yes," I said; "much better and stronger."
"Your face tells it before your lips," he said, as we began our meal,
with half a dozen attendants gliding rapidly about us, but so silently
that we hardly realised their presence till they handed curry, or some
other carefully prepared dish.
For some time scarcely anything was said beyond matters relative to the
dinner, the journey he had made, and the elephant he had ridden; but I
was holding myself ready for what I knew must follow as soon as the
servants had left the tent; and as soon as we were alone it came, as I
anticipated.
"Well, Gil," he said familiarly, as he leaned back and began to smoke
from the great pipe Salaman had ignited and placed ready to his hand,
"what do you think of those of my people whom you saw this evening?"
"They make a good display," I replied, "and seem to hold you in great
reverence."
"They do," he said, without a shadow of conceit. "They believe in me
because they know that for their sakes I suffered a kind of martyrdom,
going, as I did, amongst your people to serve in the lowest state, and
all to help free my country."