Page:Kim - Rudyard Kipling (1912).djvu/159

Rh rupees? No? Good. I will wait then till he has finished his talk with the padre. 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. These native-bred brats always prefer to jabber with Asiatics. Might I ask you to send my mare round under cover? She's a trifle warm.'

He dropped into a long chair which commanded a clear view of Kim and Mahbub Ali in conference beneath the tree. The groom, who would have given his eyes for a word or two from the eminent horse-dealer, took the mare away. The padre went indoors for cheroots.

Creighton heard Kim say bitterly: 'Trust a Brahmin before a snake, and a snake before a harlot, and a harlot before an Afghan, Mahbub Ali.'

'That is all one,' the great red beard wagged solemnly. 'Children should not see a carpet on the loom till the pattern is made plain. Believe me, Friend of all the World, I do thee great service. One thing at least is sure. They will not make a soldier of thee.'

'You crafty old sinner,' thought Creighton. 'But you're not far wrong. That boy mustn't be wasted if he is as advertised.'

'Excuse me half a minute,' cried the padre from within, 'but I'm gettin' the documents of the case.'

'If through me the favour of this great and wise Colonel Sahib comes to thee and, after a while, thou art raised to honour, what thanks wilt thou give Mahbub Ali when thou art a man?

'Nay, nay; I begged thee to let me take the road again, where I