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 Three days after this discussion, Beni Babu, Becharam Babu, Bancharam Babu, and Bakreswar Babu, arrived at Matilall's house. Thakchacha was sitting near Matilall as melancholy and spiritless as a snake with its jewelled crest lost: with bead-rosary in his hand and with trembling lips, he was muttering his prayers. His attention was not directed to the brisk conversation that was going on around him: his eyes were rolling about, their glance chiefly directed at the wall. When he saw Beni Babu and the others, he rose hurriedly and saluted them. Such humility on Thakchacha's part had never been witnessed before, but the old proverb has it:-- "With the venom, goes the glamour."

Beni Babu took hold of Thakchacha's hand, and said to him: "Why, what are you doing? How is it that you, a venerable old Moulvi as you are, honour us like this?"

Bancharam Babu said: "We must waste no more time: our leisure is very limited. Nothing is as yet arranged; come, tell us what should be done."

Becharam.-- Baburam's affairs are in great confusion: some of the property will have to be sold to clear off debts. It would not be right to celebrate the shraddha on a magnificent scale and incur more debt by so doing.

Bancharam.-- What is this I hear? Surely the very first requisite is to avoid the censure of the world: the property may be looked after later on. Shall honour and reputation be allowed to float away on the waters of this flood?

Becharam.-- That is very bad advice, and I will never assent to it myself. How now, friend Beni, what do you say?

Beni.-- To incur debt again in any case where there is already a good deal, and where it is doubtful whether it can be cleared off even by a sale of property, is really a species of theft; for how can the new debt incurred be cleared off?