Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/42

30 was denouncing poor Subodh in terms of unmitigated abuse, Kishori Babu was the only man who occasionally used to take up Subodh's part. He said one day—"Subodh was quite wrong in doing what he has done. There is no doubt of that. But we must also consider that he is very young and thoughtless. Oh no, you fellows mustn't go on persecuting the poor man like that. The amount of vilification that he has had in the newspapers is quite enough to drive one mad. That ought to be considered quite a sufficient punishment for him. Never mention it again."—Acting against the advice of some brother pleaders, Kishori Babu has invited Subodh also to partake of the marriage feast at his house.

It was evening. Subodh Babu sat in his office room, enjoying his hooka. Jagat well wrapped up in a shawl to conceal his identity, walked in.

Subodh gave him a hearty welcome. "Well, Jagat," he said—"it is so seldom that one sees you now-a-days."

"Yes, I daren't come openly to you. Everybody knows that I have cut you dead. But what about the real affair? Do you see any signs of success? I hope that abuse and denunciation are not going to be the only reward for your trouble."