When he presented himself again he was racked with a headache — penitent, and volubly afraid that in his drunkenness he might have been indiscreet.  He loved the British Government — it was the source of all prosperity and honour, and his master at Rampur held the very same opinion.  Upon this the men began to deride him and to quote past words, till step by step, with deprecating smirks, oily grins, and leers of infinite cunning, the poor Babu was beaten out of his defences and forced to speak — truth.  When Lurgan was told the tale later, he mourned aloud that he could not have been in the place of the stubborn, inattentive coolies, who with grass mats over their heads and the raindrops puddling in their footprints, waited on the weather.  All the Sahibs of their acquaintance — rough-clad men joyously returning year after year to their chosen gullies — had servants and cooks and orderlies, very often hillmen.  These Sahibs travelled without any retinue.  Therefore they were poor Sahibs, and ignorant; for no Sahib in his senses would follow a Bengali’s advice.  But the Bengali, appearing from somewhere, had given them money, and could make shift with their dialect.  Used to comprehensive ill-treatment from their own colour, they suspected a trap somewhere, and stood by to run if occasion offered.

Then through the new-washed air, steaming with delicious earth-smells, the Babu led the way down the slopes — walking ahead of the coolies in pride; walking behind the foreigners in humility.  His thoughts were many and various.  The least of them would have interested his companions beyond words.  But he was an agreeable guide, ever keen to point out the beauties of his royal master’s domain.  He peopled the hills with anything thev had a mind to slay — thar, ibex, or markhor, and bear by Elisha’s allowance.  He discoursed of botany and ethnology with unimpeachable inaccuracy, and his store of local legends — he had been a trusted agent of the State for fifteen years, remember — was inexhaustible.

‘Decidedly this fellow is an original,’ said the taller of the two foreigners.  ‘He is like the nightmare of a Viennese courier.’

’He represents in little India in transition — the monstrous hybridism of East and West,’ the Russian replied.  ’It is we who can deal with Orientals.’

’He has lost his own country and has not acquired any other.  But he has a most complete hatred of his conquerors.  Listen.  He confided to me last night,’ said the other.

Under the striped umbrella Hurree Babu was straining ear and brain to follow the quick-poured French, and keeping both eyes on a kilta full of maps and documents — an extra-large one with a double red oil-skin cover.  He did not wish to steal anything.  He only desired to know what to steal, and, incidentally, how to get away when he had stolen it.  He thanked all the Gods of Hindustan, and Herbert Spencer, that there remained some valuables to steal.