“You have learnt how to talk sweetly enough,” rejoined Debendra Babu.  “Nalini fancies himself a Lat (lord) or badshah at the very least.  What times we live in!  The young have no respect whatever for their seniors!”

“Nalini is hardly more than a boy,” said Jadu Babu with folded hands.  “I am sure he had not the slightest intention of hurting your feelings.”

“What’s the use of talking nonsense?” growled Debendra Babu.  “Go away!” and he pointed to the door.

The brothers did not stir; but Jadu Babu asked, “So you won’t overlook our faults, or even tell us what they are?”

“Well, if you will have it,” replied Debendra Babu in measured accents, “Nalini is an outcast; and no respectable Kayastha can take part in your mother’s sradh.”

Jadu Babu fairly lost his temper.  He exclaimed:  “If there is a flaw in my sister-in-law’s pedigree, what is to be said of people who visit women of alien religions, take food from their hands, and tipple strong liquor with them?”

This was a home thrust.  Debendra Babu was well-known to be carrying on an intrigue with a Mohammadan woman, named Seraji, but as he was well-to-do, no one had dared to propose his excommunication.  He started from his feet in an outburst of fury.

“What! you have the audacity to lecture me—­a wretched brat like you?  Leave my house at once.”  So saying he flounced into his inner apartments; while the brothers went away rather crestfallen.

After returning home Nalini disclosed his famous scheme for circumventing the boycott, which Jadu Babu heartily approved.  To every Samajik they added an envelope containing a new ten-rupee note and sent them round to their caste-fellows.  The sight of money banished prejudices; one and all received the gifts, and some were so shameless as to hint that similar largesse would be acceptable to their uncles or cousins.

Debendra Babu was deeply annoyed by the success of the strategy.  He swore a mighty oath not to rest until he had destroyed the Basu family root and branch.  After a good deal of thought he matured a plan which was to be executed through a notorious widow belonging to the village.  This creature, Hiramani by name, had passed middle life and lived on a little money left by her husband, in a hut close to Debendra’s residence.  People used to say that God had created her a female by oversight, for she had every bad quality which a man could possess.  She was noted for the fact that misfortune invariably fell on a house which she honoured with her intimacy.  People were very shy indeed of inviting her.

One bright afternoon Hiramani called at the Basus and started a conversation with the wives of Jadu and Nalini by inquiring about their household affairs, and offering advice which is generally acceptable if seldom acted on.  While they sat talking Jadu Babu’s eldest boy came to his mother, whimpering:—­

“Chota Kaka (my young uncle) has whipped me because an inkpot of his slipped from my hand, while I was playing with it, and got broken!”