“Oh, well, if that be so, let them be visited
on us. But we shall have our revenge.
We have undermined what was the greatest strength
of the authorities, their devotion to their own laws.
Once they were truly kings, dispensing justice; now
they themselves will become law-breakers, and so no
better than robbers. This may not go down to
history, but we shall carry it in our hearts for all
time ...”
The evil reports about me which are spreading from
paper to paper are making me notorious. News
comes that my effigy has been burnt at the river-side
burning-ground of the Chakravartis, with due ceremony
and enthusiasm; and other insults are in contemplation.
The trouble was that they had come to ask me to take
shares in a Cotton Mill they wanted to start.
I had to tell them that I did not so much mind the
loss of my own money, but I would not be a party to
causing a loss to so many poor shareholders.
“Are we to understand, Maharaja,” said
my visitors, “that the prosperity of the country
does not interest you?”
“Industry may lead to the country’s prosperity,”
I explained, “but a mere desire for its prosperity
will not make for success in industry. Even
when our heads were cool, our industries did not flourish.
Why should we suppose that they will do so just because
we have become frantic?”
“Why not say plainly that you will not risk
your money?”
“I will put in my money when I see that it is
industry which prompts you. But, because you
have lighted a fire, it does not follow that you have
the food to cook over it.”
What is this? Our Chakua sub-treasury looted!
A remittance of seven thousand five hundred rupees
was due from there to headquarters. The local
cashier had changed the cash at the Government Treasury
into small currency notes for convenience in carrying,
and had kept them ready in bundles. In the middle
of the night an armed band had raided the room, and
wounded Kasim, the man on guard. The curious
part of it was that they had taken only six thousand
rupees and left the rest scattered on the floor, though
it would have been as easy to carry that away also.
Anyhow, the raid of the dacoits was over; now the police
raid would begin. Peace was out of the question.
When I went inside, I found the news had travelled
before me. “What a terrible thing, brother,”
exclaimed the Bara Rani. “Whatever shall
we do?”
I made light of the matter to reassure her.
“We still have something left,” I said
with a smile. “We shall manage to get
along somehow.”
“Don’t joke about it, brother dear.
Why are they all so angry with you? Can’t
you humour them? Why put everybody out?”
“I cannot let the country go to rack and ruin,
even if that would please everybody.”
“That was a shocking thing they did at the burning-grounds.
It’s a horrid shame to treat you so.
The Chota Rani has got rid of all her fears by dint
of the Englishwoman’s teaching, but as for me,
I had to send for the priest to avert the omen before
I could get any peace of mind. For my sake,
dear, do get away to Calcutta. I tremble to
think what they may do, if you stay on here.”
