Page:Quartette - Kipling (1885).djvu/132

 (Enter gun in hand.)—Well done, Smith! You shoot, egad as well as you play whist; and I'm immensely obliged to you. I shouldn't have missed him myself, but just as I was pulling the trigger I felt a sharp prick in the calf of my leg. But how's this? Where's the loafer andEdith!

—O papa! I'm so glad you are safe. I can scarcely tell you that there isn't a loafer—there never was a loafer; —and please, papa, this is Captain Wilmot of the Artillery, who called on us, in a little disguise, you know, to explain that he never beat the bannia nor assaulted the constables, and saved your life and

(shaking hands with Wilmot).—I have heard you name before, sir; indeed it was only this morning we were talking of you, and I must say I am glad to make the acquaintance of a man whose accomplishments are so much to my taste. But

(Enter at back, with umbrella and hog-spear in front of coolies carrying the dead leopard on a charpoy).—This is glorious! I'll be a sportsman myself.

—In that case I advise you to leave hog-spears at home. Are you aware, sir, that an inch and a half of that weapon entered the calf of my leg five minutes ago, and that I missed my shot in consequence, while the leopard was killed by this gentleman?

—Gentleman? Why, he's the prisoner. (To Wilmot: How dare you, sir!

—Allow me to introduce you—Captain Wilmot of the Royal Artillery, Mr. Smallweed of the Bengal Civil Service.

—I—I—beg your pardon. So you are not a loafer after all?

—No, I am only a soldier.

(on Wilmot's arm).—A necessary evil, you know, Mr. Smallweed—a mere tertium quid.

—Quite so; quite so. (Aside: I never did like that fellow.)

(Enter Nubbee Baksh.)

—Want you prisoner again, Nubbee Baksh? (Shakes his fist at him.) This is your contrivance, eh?

(folding his hands).—Sircár ma báp hai. Everybody always saying Biaspur Division police bahut efficient.

—Efficient indeed! But it's of no use being angry, nor is it the first time I suppose that an old man's prejudice has had to give way to a young girl's will.