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Rowlatt turned his head and, laughing, looked into the twinkling black eyes. "I don't for a moment expect you to buy, sir, but I was only a-satisfying of my artistic conscience." Rowlatt shut his sketch-book with a snap, and rose. "Let us have a drink," said he. "Artists should be better acquainted."
In answer to questions put in the House of Commons, he is reported to have said that whilst he acknowledged that I had rendered distinguished services to the country in the past, he could not look upon my present attitude with equanimity and that it was not to be expected that I could now be treated as leniently as I was during the Rowlatt Act agitation.
Then at last they were on the move; through the Gate, inside the City, aeroplanes flying low, cavalry bringing up the rear. Here normal life and activity were completely suspended hence more than half the trouble. Groups of idlers, sauntering about, stared, spat, or shook clenched fists, shouting, "Give us Ghandi and we will open!" "Repeal Rowlatt Bill and we will open."
"It's the living image of 'im," said Barney Bill. "He tells me he's going up to London to seek his fortune," said Rowlatt, putting in the finishing touches. "And his 'igh-born parents," said Barney Bill, winking at Paul. Paul flushed and wriggled uncomfortably. Instinct deprecated crude revelation of the mystery of his birth to the man of refinement.
"How are you going to get there?" "I don't know," said Paul, "but if I knew an actor, he would be able to tell me. I thought perhaps you might know an actor." "I do one or two," replied Rowlatt; "but they're just ordinary actors not managers; and I shouldn't think they'd be able to do anything for you." "Except what I say," Paul persisted. "They'll tell me how one sets about being an actor."
For to-night shop held the field: if that could be called shop, which vitally concerned the fate of England and India, and of British dominion in the East. Agitation against the sane measures embodied in the Rowlatt Bills was already astir, like bubbles round a pot before it boils.
By its provisions the authorities were endowed with greatly increased powers, such as the right to search premises and arrest persons on mere suspicion of seditious activity, without definite evidence of the same. The Rowlatt Bill at once aroused bitter nationalist opposition. Not merely extremists, but many moderates, condemned it as a backward step and as a provoker of fresh trouble.
But throughout the war India not only remained calm and restrained, but her actual contribution to the war, in men and material, was colossal and was ungrudgingly given. She had a right to expect in return generous treatment; but what did she get? She got the Rowlatt Bill.
Rowlatt held up a detaining hand. "Just a couple of minutes, if you can spare them. I've nearly finished." "All right, sir," said Barney Bill, limping across the yard. "Taking a picture of him?" The artist nodded. Barney Bill looked over his shoulder. "By Gosh!" he cried in admiration. "By Gosh!" "It has come out rather well, hasn't it?" said the artist, complacently.
Rowlatt, with a laugh. "I can say all the Kings of England, with their dates, and the counties and chief towns of Great Britain and Ireland, and all the weights and measures, and 'The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold " "Holy Moses!" cried Rowlatt. "Anything else?" "Ay. Lots more," said Paul, anxious to stamp vividly the impression he saw that he was making.
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