Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/43

Rh "Oh no! Everything in due time. We must hold our souls in patience till the psychological moment should arrive."

"I saw in the papers to-day that the Government Pleader of Faridsing has been compelled to send in his resignation. Why not fire off an application?"

"Oh dear no! Not a Government Pleadership. The bar would be too hot for me anywhere after all that has happened."

"What do you desire then?"

"I would much rather become a Deputy Magistrate. It carries a handsome salary—a settled income, and besides, the position is considered to be a high one too."

"The starting salary of a Deputy Magistrate is only two hundred rupees. Why not apply for a Deputy Superintendentship of Police? You get two hundred and fifty to start with."

Subodh replied with vehemence—"What, become a policeman and turn a real traitor to the country? These days, during which I have only posed as a traitor, have been too much for me I tell you. By becoming a Deputy Superintendent of Police my duty in this province will frequently be to go and hurl regulation lathies at the heads of poor urchins who have shouted Bande Mataram, to hunt down boys who in their youthful zeal have