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Updated: May 23, 2025
"What is it then that you do want?" asked Chandranath Babu. "Thorns!" I exclaimed, "which cost nothing to plant." "Thorns do not obstruct others only," he replied. "They have a way of hurting one's own feet." "That is all right for a copy-book," I retorted. "But the real thing is that we have this burning at heart.
Chandranath Babu had no sooner come in than he cast about for some excuse to retire, mumbling: "I beg your pardon, I..." Before he could finish, Bee went up to him and made a profound obeisance, saying: "Pray do not leave us, sir. Will you not take a seat?" She looked like a drowning person clutching at him for support the little coward! But possibly I was mistaken.
But there is still another much esteemed by the student-lóg; one who can skilfully flavour a pillau of learned talk, as the Swami can flavour a pillau of religion. Where he comes, there will be trouble afterwards, and arrests. But no Siri Chandranath. He is off making trouble elsewhere." "Chandranath here?" Roy's heart gave a jerk, half excitement, half apprehension.
Of course, unmistakable: the sullen mouth, the shifty eyes.... Instantly he went forward and said in English: "I say excuse me but is your name Chandranath?" The man started and stiffened. "That is no matter to you." "Perhaps not. Only ... you're very like a boy who was one term at St Rupert's School with me." "Well, I was at St Rupert's. A beastly hole "
I remember he had translated some martial German poem into English which he proposed to recite himself on the day, and came to rehearse it to us full of enthusiasm. That a warrior poet's ode to his beloved sword should at one time have been his favourite poem will convince the reader that even Chandranath Babu was once young; and moreover that those times were indeed peculiar.
Roy vividly described his sensations, riding through the City; the culminating incident, and his recognition of the offender. "The queerest thing, running into the beggar again like that! He looks as sulky and shifty as ever. That's how I knew." "Sulky and shifty and wearing English clothes?" Sir Lakshman's brows contracted sharply. "What name did you say?" "Chandranath, we called him."
Their zeal proved superfluous. Chandranath never reappeared at St Rupert's. Perhaps his people had arrived at Desmond's conclusion, that he was not the right "ját" for an English school. In any case, his disappearance was a relief and Roy promptly forgot all about him. Years later many years later he was to remember.
If Chandranath had been injured or stupefied, he would probably not have gone far. His surmise proved correct. His stealthy approach well-timed. The guardian gods of Amber, it seemed, were on his side. For there, on the fallen slab, crouched a shadow, bowed forward; its head in its hands. "Must have been stunned," he thought. Patently the gods were with him.
"You're well quit of it all, anyhow," said Roy, and slipped a hand through his arm. Not till they were settling down for a few hours' sleep in the night mail, did it dawn on Roy that the little game might possibly have been connected with himself. Chandranath had seen him in that dress before. He had just come very near quarrelling with Dyán.
"Conscience and heart if not drastically disciplined by the logically reasoning brain, propagate the majority of troubles that afflict mankind," quoth Chandranath in the manner of one familiar with platform oratory. "Are you stopping in Jaipur?" "Yes. At the Residency. Mrs Leigh is Desmond's sister. Did you know?" "That is curious. I did not know. Too much heart and conscience there also.
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