Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/243

 of Debipur and Birnagar. The skilful hand of the dark intriguer had raised him to his present position; the same hand would give him a loftier position and larger possessions before it lost its cunning.

Detesting the methods of Gokul Das, his young Master, nevertheless, could scarcely help admiring the devotion of that ancient servant of Debipur. He thought of his forty years of endeavours, his varied schemes, his deep instincts, his silent successes. And he confessed to himself that if Gokul Das's schemes were vile they were at least unselfish. He had no personal interests to serve, he worked for Debipur alone. He served with the instincts of a dog, who will attack the stag at bay to serve his master's interests.

The young Zemindar paced the verandah up and down. In half an hour's time he calmly entered the room again.

Gokul Das knew his young Master too well to disturb his thoughts. He had remained inside the room poring over the papers one by one. He rose as his Master entered.

"Pardon me for keeping thee waiting, Gokul Das, but I am new to the work of a Zemindar, and sometimes require a little time to reflect before I know what to do."

"My time is my Master's," said Gokul Das, "and I would sit here all night for his work."

"Thou hast indeed struggled hard and long to compass a great end. But tell me, for nothing is unknown to thee, what is the amount of arrears of Birnagar estate?"

"The arrears, my Master, is for several years, and has mounted up to a hundred thousand rupees."