Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/200

188 astonishment—"What is this? Why are your looks so changed, Sir? Has some misfortune occurred?"

The old man, swaying his head up and down, said in piteous tones—"Ha, ha, ha, ha, destruction has come upon me."

"What has happened? Would they not give the jewels?"

"They gave them, they gave them, but I am ruined."

Srinibash looked eagerly at his father in the hope that he would say something more, but nothing came from the old man's lips, save the same indistinct mutterings.

At length Srinibash said—"Well, what happened? Are they lost?"

The old man answered as before. This time Srinibash, annoyed, said—"What has happened? Will you not speak plainly?"

"They are gone, I tell you. They are lost."

"But in what way? Were they stolen?"

" No."

"Taken by dacoits?"

"No."

"Then."

This time Sitanath got out with much difficulty the words—"Bhudhar Chatterji of Chandbari has taken them."