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"Babu Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti," announced the darwan. The Babu entered. "Come and tell me if these are our dastaks," said Desmond. The Babu ran his eyes over the papers, and declared: "Yes, sir, they are the identical papers, and I perceive the signature of the Faujdar is dated three weeks ago." "Thank you," said Desmond. "Now, Coja Solomon, I must ask you to come with me."
From a point some distance beyond the end of the jetty shone a faint glimmer of light. Desmond silently drew the Gujarati's attention to it. "They are gambling," whispered the man. "So much the better for our chances," thought Desmond. Turning to the Babu he whispered: "Now, Surendra Nath, you know what to do?" "Yes, sahib."
"'Your servant Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti," he said slowly, aloud. "Who is Surendra Nath Chuckerbutti?" he asked his man, standing behind. "Truly, huzur, I know not. It is a common name in Bengal a vile Hindu; an unbeliever " "How did this paper come here?" cried Diggle impatiently. "How should I know, sahib? I am a poor man, an ignorant man; I do not read "
How they had been trapped by Diggle, pretending to be a Monsieur de Bonnefon: how he had conveyed them to the house of his friend Sinfray: how after many months their whereabouts had been revealed to Surendra Nath by one of his numerous relatives, a man who had a distant cousin among Sinfray's servants: how the Babu, displaying unwonted energy, had come with a number of friends and fallen unawares upon their captors, afterward taking them to a house of his father's in this village: how the old man and his son had both been stricken with jungle fever, and the father died, and when the Babu lay helpless and unconscious on his sickbed they had found no means of communicating with their friends.
"There's Surendra Nath and his father," said Mr. Merriman, as they came near the steps. "Hullo, Babu!" he said, "glad to see you again." He shook hands with both the men; the elder was much like his son, a slightly-built Bengali, with white hair and very bright eyes. Both were clad in dhotis of pure white; their legs were bare from the knee, their feet shod with sandals.
I'd say beware of tigers, but Surendra Nath is so desperately timid that you can depend on him not to lead you into danger." "The Hormuzzeer will not sail until I return?" "Not till the goods arrive. Why do you ask?" "I should like to take Bulger with me. He's a good companion, with a shrewd head." "And a useful hook. I have no objection. You will be ready to start tomorrow, then.
Said Debendra, laughing, "What a jolly Boisnavi I was! Were you not charmed with my get-up?" "I did not see you in that base disguise," replied Surendra, "or I would have given you a taste of the whip." Then snatching the glass from Debendra's hand, he said, "Now do listen seriously while you are in your senses; after that, drink if you will."
From Surendra Nath they learned that they need not despair; and since then they had lived on in the hope that, when the Babu had recovered from his illness, he would find some means of restoring them to the husband and father from whom they had so long been parted. "Surendra Nath has a heart of gold, Mr. Burke," said Mrs. Merriman in concluding her story. "Poor man! he has been very ill.
Early next morning Desmond, accompanied by Surendra Nath, went to find Coja Solomon. He lived in a house not far from the Armenian church, between it and the river. The Armenian was at home. He received Desmond with great politeness, assuring him with much volubility that he had but one interest in life, and that was the business of his honorable employer, Mr. Merriman.
Surendra was in every respect the opposite of Debendra, yet the latter was much attached to his cousin; he heeded no one in the world but him. Every night Surendra came to see him, but, fearing the wine, he would only sit a few minutes. When all were gone, Surendra asked Debendra, "How are you to-day?" "The body," replied Debendra, "is the temple of disease."
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