The houses of the English official residents in Puranapore were all in
fairly close neighbourhood, though each was surrounded by its own ample
compound. They were mostly thatched bungalows with deep verandahs. The
Judge's house was the only "up-stair" house, as the natives call a house
of two storeys. It was also the largest in the station, being usually
appropriated by the Collector; but Mr. Worsley, being solitary, had
given it to the Goldrings, and elected to live in a small flat-roofed
bungalow, grey and colourless, with a pillared verandah unrelieved by
creepers like those which adorned Mrs. Samptor's entrance. The
Government office stood a little further down the road, a group of grey
stone buildings of the Georgian period, surrounded by a grove of
cocoanut palms. At one end a great banyan tree, with its branches
growing downwards on the brown grass and its dense foliage of glossy
green, made a chosen retreat for the various native witnesses and the
police peons in attendance at the Court House. There they squatted, ate
betel-nut, and chattered in their native Tamil; while a group of crows
perched near listened to all with their heads to one side, always ready
to pounce on any food within their reach.
The ancient town itself was quite a mile distant from the European
quarter, not even a mud village intervened, so the English residents
were more divided than usual from the native population. To none was
this topographical isolation more welcome than to the Collector.
"It is, in fact, my reason for preferring to camp in this sleepy
hollow," he explained to his new Assistant as they walked homewards
after Mrs. Samptor's tea-party. "You don't know what a relief it is to
be out of reach of all the tom-toms and shrill street cries and the
constant hum of the bazaars, not to speak of the vile odours."
"I quite took a liking to the scent of the charcoal fumes of the little
native villages studded about the Madras roads," said Mark.
"I loathe them and all Indian scents--even the scent of the garlands
they bedeck one with at their _tomashas_ are odious to me, and I hasten
to seek relief in a cheroot. But I confess I have a liking for my
Kutchery on horseback. One can mow down a lot of cases, listen to scores
of grievances in the open, under a good spreading tree. Everything comes
before one on tour, you will find. In fact, we are reckoned a kind of
terrestrial providence, expected to redress every grievance from a
murrain among the cattle to a rival claim on a water-spout in the
bazaar. Our territory includes many thousand square miles. It's no joke!
But being obliged to itinerate is, after all, the saving grace of a
civilian--it's a sort of vagabondage which I like--or did before the
spring went out of me," added the Collector with a gloomy air. "Take my
advice, Cheveril, choose the Revenue in preference to the Judicial side
of the civilian's life. I can see it will suit you best. I believe our
good little Judge there would grow several inches taller if he went on
tour, and was not so devoted a slave to his cases and abstracts and his
blue books. Much of that red-tape business will be your bitter portion
for some time to come, young man, I warn you!"
"My apprenticeship, no doubt! I expect these files are useful to
beginners, though they seem to spell drudgery later on."
"Very neatly put, they do spell drudgery with a vengeance! They ought
not to be piled on the shoulders of Indian officials as they are. In
fact, they're more often like the lash of the slave-driver than decent
business. I wish some of our young reformers would organise a big
bonfire of them--say simultaneously throughout the length and breadth of
India--a sort of red-tape mutiny! But remember, some men live and move
and have their being in those said files! They are poetry to Goldring,
for instance, and to some of the younger men, I notice. I suspect it is
the old sinners like me that chafe most against that side of the work."
"Well, I'm curious to know what my experience of it all will prove,"
said Mark. "I don't think I'll ever find much poetry in files, though,
after all, it depends on their subject-matter."
"Yes, tragical enough tales are often compressed into blue books, and
comedies too, for that matter. You'll find things go on very
methodically in our Revenue Office down there, Cheveril. I've got some
excellent Mahomedan clerks who do their part like clock-work. I confess
I prefer them to Hindus. They are more manly for one thing, and one gets
a shade nearer to some understanding of them than with the subtle though
childish Hindu. But I am in the minority here. The doctor is always
shaking his head over the Mussulman population in the town, declaring
they have the upper hand. Well, I own as far as Moideen is concerned, he
has the upper hand of me. There he is anxiously looking out for us, in
case we are going to be late and his dinner should fall short of the
perfection he aims at."
"What a commanding figure he is, I noticed him whenever I drove up to
your door. So he is a Mahomedan! He certainly contrasts favourably with
my Hindu, who has got a cringing air I don't like."
"There's no cringing in my major-domo! He once rather affronted me years
ago. A lady, rather an old campaigner, happened to be dining with us,
and thought Moideen had spilt wine on her dress. Pointing it out to the
man, she said witheringly: 'You ape!' For once Moideen, who was then in
the dew of his youth, forgot his manners. Beating his breast and with
flashing eyes he shouted: 'I not one ape, I one man!' It was an
unpleasant moment, I really feared the furious Mussulman might do the
lady some injury. But age and experience have sobered him. He has
developed into the most perfect of servants. I've no doubt he caters
well for himself as well as for me, as Mrs. Samptor sometimes attempts
to hint, but I suddenly become stone deaf. There are some truths one
can't afford to listen to. 'Where ignorance is bliss, _et cetera_!'"
"Don't you think there's a good deal of fallacy in that couplet, Mr.
Worsley? It's like pulling the blinds down when one's garden is being
ravaged by a black goat--like the culprit Mrs. Samptor was chasing this
afternoon."
"Just a case in point! For my part, I much prefer having the blinds down
to scrambling up a tree to fight with a goat as that little lady did.
Yet I admire her pluck! Well, here we are, Cheveril, in my den where I
keep the blinds down metaphorically as well as literally as much as
possible," said the Collector, as he walked up the broad grey steps of
his bungalow which looked a more cheerful abode when brilliantly lit
than in the daytime. "Moideen knows I'm a lover of light. He illuminates
for me every night as if I were a light-keeper."
The dingy dining-room was transformed, lit up by tall candelabra; the
candles all shaded by glass. The table glittered with exquisitely kept
old English silver plate, flowers artistically arranged, glancing
cut-glass, spotless English damask; "no country tablecloths my master
having," Moideen was wont to boast to the other boys of the station. "I
making list to best shops in London, no bazaar bobbery here."
But not all the handsome table appointments, the perfect cooking, the
faultless waiting of Moideen and his satellites could banish from the
young Assistant's mind the thought that his chief was a weary,
disenchanted man, and all the talk of the evening only served to deepen
that impression.
Next morning, when he stood in the writing-room, into which the
drawing-room of the house had been converted, and where Mr. Worsley
always sat, he noticed that on the shelves for books there was an entire
absence of any kind of literature, only a few old magazines and
newspapers, and some rows of blue books, though according to his avowal
on the previous evening, these were his special detestation. Some books
on sport there were, but not a single volume of poetry, history, or even
a novel. Mark felt glad to remember that his own boxes were bringing a
fairly liberal supply of mental food, and that he had arranged for the
due arrival of his favourite magazines. How good it would be if the
Collector came to find in his bungalow a source of pleasure which was
certainly absent from his own! What a happiness that would prove,
thought Mark, as he paced up and down the verandah after early tea!
Moideen presently appeared with soft tread and searching eye to bring
him the unwelcome news that "Master not done sleep last night, fever
coming, not able to get out of bed this day." He also brought the
suggestion that the young Assistant should find his own way to the
Government Offices. This Mark was nothing loth to do, though he felt
sorry to be without his chief on his first day of initiation.
The inevitable office-bandy was in attendance, and after five minutes
drive he stood within the grey portals, and was welcomed by the Judge,
who showed him round, and introduced him to the subordinates of his
department. Soon he was seated at his table ready to begin work.
Several Hindus were waiting for an interview. All of these seemed to
wish to see the Collector, and showed disappointment at his absence. One
visitor was announced, however, who, Mark noticed, showed no regret at
the chief's absence, but looked with keen interest at himself such as
none of the others had evinced. Glancing at his card, he read the name
"Zynool Sahib." Surely, thought Mark, I have heard that name before!
Yes, he was the Puranapore client whom Rayner had mentioned. The man had
evidently heard of him from that source also, and was now come to take
the measure of the new Assistant. Beady twinkling black eyes peered out
from bulging flesh, the coarse red lips were so thick that they showed
each curve in spite of the dense bushy beard and moustache. Over one
colossal shoulder was flung a green cashmere shawl, richly embroidered.
The folds of his white turban looked a work of art compared to the
swathes of muslin which enveloped the heads of the Hindu visitors. He
was evidently a person of importance in his own eyes, a man of substance
probably, but not seemingly a favourite, Mark decided, observing that
the Hindus, who still lingered in the hope of seeing the Collector,
exchanged ominous glances on his appearance, and one after another made
their exit by another door, showing that they declined any contact with
the new-comer.
There was a malicious twinkle in Zynool Sahib's eyes when he remarked
that after all they were obliged to re-enter by the main door through
which he had come to secure their sandals, which native courtesy
demanded should be left at the entrance.
Mark's quick eye noted that the present visitor's feet were encased in
white stockings and shining patent leather shoes, which he retained. It
was a very small bit of dumb show, but the young man felt immediate
sympathy with the humbler owners of the sandals, and turned with a
slight sense of prejudice to listen to the owner of the plethoric voice.
Zynool Sahib expressed himself in pompous English of a sort, and made
polite inquiries as to "His Honour the noble Collector," begging that
expressions of his regret for his illness should be conveyed to him,
and hoping that he would be well enough to grant his "humble slave" an
audience one lucky day before long. He then assured Mark in flowing
periods that he was desirous of becoming, from this day henceforth, the
"humble slave of the present company," as he designated the young
Assistant. Mark thanked him rather coldly, and began to wonder what the
man's morning mission really was, when suddenly it was revealed to him.
"What am I saying?" jerked Zynool, shaking his bushy beard. "I am
stoopid as an owl! This truly is my best lucky day, and not another! For
does not this lucky day give me the acquaintance of one who it is
revealed to me is the friend of my patron, my guiding star, who but the
La'yer Rayner, Pleader, High Court of Madras? I humbly beg on my bended
knees," he added, which expression, be it understood, was symbolical, as
Mark perceived with relief, fearing that otherwise it might fall to him
to assist to raise the mass of flesh from the ground.
"I beg on my prostrate knees," he repeated, bending forward and clasping
his fat hands together, "that your Honour will embody La'yer Rayner in
your own redoubtable person to me, your humble slave, and will
henceforward defend me from all the plots and persecutions of my town
enemies who buzz about me like evil flies, who are many and strong as
the sands of the sea. And for this end your humble slave will now
proceed to touch your palm."
Fixing his beady eyes on Mark he slowly drew out a well-filled silken
purse through whose meshes pieces of gold glittered. He bent low before
the Assistant's chair and laid the purse by his side on the table. The
young civilian flushed, then turned pale. He had heard of the offering
of bribes by natives, but surely it was early in his day for such an
incident to happen! Did he look such a vulnerable person, he asked
himself with a sense of dismay. Rising from his chair, he folded his
hands behind his back, and said in a tone of repressed anger: "Put that
purse in your pocket instantly. Englishmen don't take bribes!"
The Mussulman's amber face assumed a blacker hue. For a moment he stood
as if he felt himself trapped, then licking his red lips quickly, his
beady eyes shot fiery glances at the young man as he muttered in reply:
"No, but half-castes do!"
It was the first bearing of the cross which Mark Cheveril had to
undergo. He waxed a shade paler, and seemed about to speak, then he
checked himself and silently pointed to the door.
The man's demeanour instantly changed.
"Pardon your humble slave! He has been misled," he stammered. "By holy
Mahomet, I'll make the dog that misled me pay for this!"
Mark still pointed silently to the door. Zynool cast one long searching
glance upon him, regarding him evidently with roused curiosity from top
to toe. Then, salaaming profoundly, he sighed noisily and waddled out
with a baulked expression on his cunning face.