"
Bathurst smiled faintly. "I don't think the quotation is quite
right, Doctor; anyhow, I am convinced that the impression is far
too vivid to have been the result of a dream."
"By the way, Bathurst," the Doctor said, suddenly changing
his conversation, "what do you think of this talk we hear about
chupaties being sent round among the native troops, and the talk
about greased cartridges. You see more of the natives than anyone
I know; do you think there is anything brewing in the air?"
"If there is, Doctor, I am certain it is not known to the natives
in general. I see no change whatever in their manner, and I am sure
I know them well enough to notice any change if it existed. I know
nothing about the Sepoys, but Garnet tells me that the Company at
Deennugghur give him nothing to complain of, though they don't obey
orders as smartly as usual, and they have a. sullen air as they go
about their work."
"I don't like it, Bathurst. I do not understand what the chupaties
mean, but I know that there is a sort of tradition that the sending of
them round has always preceded trouble. The Sepoys have no reason
for discontent, but there has been no active service lately,
and idleness is always bad for men. I can't believe there is any
widespread dissatisfaction among them, but there is no doubt whatever
that if there is, and it breaks out, the position will be a very
serious one. There are not half enough white troops in India, and
the Sepoys may well think that they are masters of the situation.
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