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Updated: May 27, 2025
The possibility of Mahbub's guilt seemed to interfere with some theory of his own. He called Simmonds and the district attorney to him, and they exchanged a few low words. Then he turned back to the witness. "I should like to question your attendant," he said. "Will you translate for me? I have not been able to find a Hindu interpreter." Silva bowed his consent.
But it was Kim who had wakened the lama Kim with one eye laid against a knot-hole in the planking, who had seen the Delhi man's search through the boxes. This was no common thief that turned over letters, bills, and saddles no mere burglar who ran a little knife sideways into the soles of Mahbub's slippers, or picked the seams of the saddle-bags so deftly.
Oh, that is another matter. Heavens forbid I should come between a priest and his prayers! It shall be brought, and thou shalt keep the key. They pushed the coffer under his cot, and Kim shut away Mahbub's pistol, the oilskin packet of letters, and the locked books and diaries, with a groan of relief.
I will wait under that tree. 'Confound you! The Colonel laughed. 'That comes of looking at one of Mahbub's horses. He's a regular old leech, Padre. Wait, then, if thou hast so much time to spare, Mahbub. Now I'm at your service, Padre. Where is the boy? Oh, he's gone off to collogue with Mahbub. Queer sort of boy. Might I ask you to send my mare round under cover?
'With Mahbub, I ate Mahbub's bread, or Lurgan Sahib's. At St Xavier's, three meals a day. Here I must jolly-well look out for myself. Besides, I am not in good training. How I could eat a plate of beef now! ... Is it finished, Holy One? The lama, both hands raised, intoned a final blessing in ornate Chinese. 'I must lean on thy shoulder, said he, as the temple gates closed.
He knew better now than to leave Lucknow city in native garb, and if Mahbub were anywhere within reach of a letter, it was to Mahbub's camp he headed, and made his change under the Pathan's wary eye. Could the little Survey paint-box that he used for map-tinting in term-time have found a tongue to tell of holiday doings, he might have been expelled.
He's in yarak Plumed to the very point so manned, so weathered... Give him the firmament God made him for, And what shall take the air of him? Gow's Watch Lurgan Sahib did not use as direct speech, but his advice tallied with Mahbub's; and the upshot was good for Kim.
'The Hajji has of his favour given me service, said Kim testily. 'If this be doubted, wait till he comes in the morning. Meantime, a place by the fire. Followed the usual aimless babble that every low-caste native must raise on every occasion. It died down, and Kim lay out behind the little knot of Mahbub's followers, almost under the wheels of a horse-truck, a borrowed blanket for covering.
He was thinking of the immense fun to come, of Mahbub's letter of the day before, all neatly written in English, making appointment for that afternoon in a house the very name of which would have crisped the Principal's hair with horror... Said Kim to Mahbub in Lucknow railway station that evening, above the luggage-scales: 'I feared lest at the last, the roof would fall upon me and cheat me.
'Then he is not dead, think you? 'Fever might kill him. I do not fear for the boy otherwise. A monkey does not fall among trees. Next morning, on the same course, Mahbub's stallion ranged alongside the Colonel. 'It is as I had thought, said the horse-dealer. 'He has come through Umballa at least, and there he has written a letter to me, having learned in the bazar that I was here.
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