Page:Quartette - Kipling (1885).djvu/120

 —Yes, it is a nuisance. But that's the law. And he's in a sort our guest, and now I think of it, the scamp has had no breakfast. Poor devil! I dare say he was very hungry when he assaulted the bunnia; but he must be taught that the Natives of this country are not to be beaten with impunity. Couldn't he have some ham and eggs, eh? and some hunter's beef, and perhaps he would like chicken curry? The scoundrel! to come and budnam the English in this way; and yes, and that pâté. The abandoned wretch smokes too, I dare say; these loafers generally do, I notice. You might send him a cheroot.

—Well, papa, you seem to be bent on treating him pretty handsomely for a criminal; now I should have given him bread and water and one of Auntie's temperance tracts to improve his mind.

I agree with you, Miss Bulthrop, if you are speaking of Nubee Baksh's prisoner. A more determined ruffian I never saw. I would send him to the Andamans for life on the spot if I had the disposal of his case. I have just been putting a few questions to him, and I don't half like the fellow!

—I am sure neither of you would be half so hard as you pretend. At all events, give him some breakfast. I shall see you in half an hour, Smallweed, eh?

—Your father, Miss Edith, is much too kind and gentle to everybody. You are not going to give that villain paté de foie gras, surely?

—Commissioner Sahib ka hookum! But I will send him a tract too, and I daresay you will let him know what you think of his conduct. So we may, perhaps, reform him among us.

—Ah! Miss Edith! Why won't you look at things seriously. The English loafer is one of the cankers at the root of our administrative tree. On the one hand you have a Service which represents, I trust not unfitly, the culture and civic virtue of England, and on the other, a class of men who show the depths of degradation of which it is capable.

—Now, Mr. Smallweed, don't you think, if you would only write all this in a little tract, it would be more edifying. Give me the butter, please.

—Why, you are not going to butter that criminal's toast for him?