Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/104

92 "If the witnesses are not credible, surely you ought not to keep these men in hajat,"—observed the Doctor Babu.

The Sub-Inspector said with a shudder—"If I let them off,—I shouldn't remain in my post long, Doctor Babu. There is only one day intervening. The trial begins the day after to-morrow. That's what I have come to you for."

"To me?"—queried the Doctor, somewhat surprised.—"To me?—But how can I help you?"

"You can Doctor Babu,—of course you can,"—grinned the Daroga and continued in a tone extremely polite and solicitous—"I hear that you were present there,—so I have come to beg you to give evidence in this case."

"I was present there at the Station no-doubt, but not on the platform where all this happened. I came on the scene when the assultassault [sic] had been over. The assailants had dispersed before that. So how can I say who assaulted the Sahib?"

The Sub-Inspector looked as though he was very much vexed with himself. "Is that so? I have made a mess of it then. I wish I had known—I really do,"—he said.

"What's the matter, Daroga Babu?"

The Daroga shook his head slowly, pursed up his lips and looked at the ceiling. Then, in a