“Who is she?” asked Nalini looking up from a law book which he was studying.

“Surely you know my sister, Chota Babu?”

“Yes, of course, what’s the matter with her?”

“She has been ill for three days, with excruciating internal pains; what am I to do, Babuji?”

“Who is treating her?” asked Nalini.

“Abdullah has been giving her the usual remedies.”

“Why, he is a peasant and knows nothing of medicine.  You should not have called him in.”

“Sir, we are poor folk.  Abdullah is very clever and his fee is a mere trifle.”

“What drugs has he been administering?”

“Homopotik (homoeopathic), they are called.”

“Now you had better return home at once to find out how she is progressing.  Let me know if she grows worse and I will send Hriday Doctor.  Don’t trouble about his fees; I will pay them myself.  Why did you not come to me earlier?”

Sadhu muttered some words, which Nalini could not distinguish, and left the room hurriedly.  After waiting for an hour for news, Nalini threw a wrapper over his shoulders and went to Siraji’s cottage.  On nearing it he learnt from Sadhu’s loud lamentations that she was beyond the reach of medicine; so, after a few words of sympathy, he went home.

Presently Sadhu sallied forth to ask the neighbours’ help in carrying the dead body to burial.  One and all refused to lay a hand on it because, they said, she had lived with an unbeliever.  In dire distress Sadhu again appealed to Nalini, who summoned the chief inhabitants of the Musalmanpara (Mohammadan quarter) to his house and ordered them to take Siraji’s body to the burial ground.  They reluctantly agreed to do so, and assembled at Sadhu’s cottage; but at the last moment all of them refused to touch the corpse.  Nalini was puzzled by their behaviour.  He asked for an explanation, whereon the Mohammadans whispered together and nudged a grey-beard, who became their spokesman.

“Mahasay,” he said, “the fact is Siraji lived with Debendra Babu and was actually made enceinte by him.  In order to save himself from exposure and shame, Debendra Babu got Abdullah to administer powerful drugs to the woman.  After taking these she was attacked by violent pains in the abdomen and vomiting, which ended in her death.  The Chaukidar (village watchman) knows all the facts, and he is sure to give information to the police.  You know, sir, that no one would dare to touch a corpse without their permission, if there is any suspicion of foul play.”

Nalini was greatly surprised; he asked Sadhu whether the old man’s words were true and, getting no reply except a significant silence, said:  “You may now go about your business, but mind I shall expect you all to assemble here and carry Siraji to the burial ground as soon as the police give you leave to do so”.

There was a chorus of assent, and the crowd dispersed.  Nalini was about to return home too, when the Chaukidar came in and told him that he had reported Siraji’s death to the Sub-Inspector of police, who had ordered him not to permit the corpse to be touched by any one until his arrival.