Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/55

Rh noticed a person dressed like a Khansama coming out of a shop with a tin of biscuits in his hand.

The boys at once approached the person and said—"Hallo Khansamaji, let's see what sort of biscuits you have bought."

The man stopped and handed over the tin to the boys. They inspected it and said—"Oh fie, this is English manufacture."

"Yes Babuji, English articles are good, aren't they?"—said the Khansama, somewhat surprised.

One of the boys put in—"Are you a Hindoo or a Mahomedan?"

"A Mahomedan, Sir."

"Food of English manufacture is haram, don't you know that?"

"Toba, toba, don't say that Babuji."

"How much did they charge you?"

"A rupee and a half."

"What, a rupee and a half! You may have a tin of a better quality country-made biscuits for one rupee only—fresh from the machines."

The man was a Khansama in the employ of a European tea-planter putting up at the Dak Bungalow. He thought to himself—"Well, my Sahib has given me a rupee and a half for a tin of biscuits. If I can get him a better quality for a rupee only, I make a profit of eight annas and he eats nicer biscuits; so, where is the