"I is servant one time at British Lesident's at de Maharajah's city.
Pick up English dere. Also pick up plenty lupee. Velly good business
at British Lesident's. Now gone back home to my own village, letired
gentleman." And he drew himself up with conscious dignity.
I surveyed the retired gentleman from head to foot. He had an air of
distinction, which not even his bare toes could altogether mar. He was
evidently a person of local importance. "And what did you want me to
visit your village for?" I inquired, dubiously.
"White traveller sahib ill dere, sir. Vely ill; got plague. Great
first-class sahib, all same like Governor. Ill, fit to die; send me out
all times to try find Eulopean doctor."
"Plague?" I repeated, startled. He nodded.
"Yes, plague; all same like dem hab him so bad down Bombay way."
"Do you know his name?" I asked; for though one does not like to desert
a fellow-creature in distress, I did not care to turn aside from my
road on such an errand, with Hilda and Lady Meadowcroft, unless for some
amply sufficient reason.
The retired gentleman shook his head in the most emphatic fashion. "How
me know?" he answered, opening the palms of his hands as if to show
he had nothing concealed in them.
Pages:
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365