_Governor_
Well, what happened?
_Headman_
He said he was not used to being made to work. The Headman of
Vajragarh came with the police, but the fellow doesn’t know what fear
is. Threaten him, he bursts out laughing. Asked why he laughs, he
says solemnity is the mask of stupidity and he has come to take it
off.
_Governor_
Did you set him to work with the diggers?
_Headman_
I did, I thought that pressure would make him yield. But on the
contrary it seemed to lift the pressure from the diggers’ minds also.
He cheered them up, and asked them to have a digger’s dance!
_Governor_
Digger’s dance! What on earth is that?
_Headman_
Rañjan started singing. Where were they to get drums?--they objected.
Rañjan said, if there weren’t any drums, there were spades enough.
So they began keeping time with the spades, making a joke of their
digging up of nuggets.
The Headman himself came over to reprimand them. “What style of work
is this?” he thundered.
“I have unbound the work,” said Rañjan. “It won’t have to be dragged
out by main force any more, it will run along of itself, dancing.”
_Governor_
The fellow is mad, I see.
_Headman_
Hopelessly mad. “Use your spade properly,” shouted I. “Much better
give me a guitar,” said he, smiling.
_Governor_
But how did he manage to escape from Vajragarh and come up here?
_Headman_
That I do not know. Nothing seems to fasten on to him. His
boisterousness is infectious. The diggers are getting frisky.
_Governor_
Hallo, isn’t that Rañjan himself,--going along the road, thrumming on
an old guitar? Impudent rascal! He doesn’t even care to hide.
_Headman_
Well, I never! Goodness alone knows how he broke through the wall!
_Governor_
Go and seize him instantly! He must not meet Nandini in this parish,
for anything.
(_Enter Assistant Governor._)
Where are you going?
_Assistant Governor_
To arrest Rañjan.
_Governor_
Where is the Deputy Governor?
_Assistant Governor_
He is so much amused by this fellow that he doesn’t want to lay hands
on him. He says the man’s laugh shows us what queer creatures we
governors have grown into.
_Governor_
I have an idea. Don’t arrest Rañjan. Send him on to the King’s
sanctum.
_Assistant Governor_
He refuses to obey our call, even in the King’s name.
_Governor_
Tell him the King has made a slave-girl of his Nandini.
_Assistant Governor_