beyond our ken. We do not at all doubt that our
excellent fellow-townsman, Mr. Grish Chunder De, Esq.,
M. A., will uphold the prestige of the Bengali, notwithstanding
what underhand intrigue and peshbundi may be set on
foot to insidiously nip his fame and blast his prospects
among the proud civilians, some of which will now
have to serve under a despised native and take orders
too. How will you like that, Misters? We
entreat our beloved Viceroy still to substantiate
himself superiorly to race-prejudice and colour-blindness,
and to allow the flower of this now our Civil
Service all the full pays and allowances granted to
his more fortunate brethren.’
’When does this man take over charge? I’m
alone just now, and I gather that I’m to stand
fast under him.’
‘Would you have cared for a transfer?’
said Bullows keenly. Then, laying his hand on
Tallantire’s shoulder: ’We’re
all in the same boat; don’t desert us.
And yet, why the devil should you stay, if you can
get another charge?’
‘It was Orde’s,’ said Tallantire
simply.
’Well, it’s De’s now. He’s
a Bengali of the Bengalis, crammed with code and case
law; a beautiful man so far as routine and deskwork
go, and pleasant to talk to. They naturally have
always kept him in his own home district, where all
his sisters and his cousins and his aunts lived, somewhere
south of Dacca. He did no more than turn the place
into a pleasant little family preserve, allowed his
subordinates to do what they liked, and let everybody
have a chance at the shekels. Consequently he’s
immensely popular down there.’
’I’ve nothing to do with that. How
on earth am I to explain to the district that they
are going to be governed by a Bengali? Do you—does
the Government, I mean—suppose that the
Khusru Kheyl will sit quiet when they once know?
What will the Mahomedan heads of villages say?
How will the police—Muzbi Sikhs and Pathans—how
will they work under him? We couldn’t
say anything if the Government appointed a sweeper;
but my people will say a good deal, you know that.
It’s a piece of cruel folly!’
’My dear boy, I know all that, and more.
I’ve represented it, and have been told that
I am exhibiting “culpable and puerile prejudice.”
By Jove, if the Khusru Kheyl don’t exhibit something
worse than that I don’t know the Border!
The chances are that you will have the district alight
on your hands, and I shall have to leave my work and
help you pull through. I needn’t ask you
to stand by the Bengali man in every possible way.
You’ll do that for your own sake.’
‘For Orde’s. I can’t say that
I care twopence personally.’
