Orde's
face suddenly lost all trace of expression. "Speak on, Bishen
Singh," said he, and the carver in a whining tone explained that his
case against his brothers was fixed for hearing b& fore a native
judge and-here he dropped his voice still lower tid he was
summarily stopped by Orde, who sternly pointed to the gate with
an emphatic Begone!
Bishen Singh, showing but little sign of discomposure, salaamed
respectfully to the friends and departed.
Pagett looked inquiry; Orde with complete recovery of his usual
urbanity, replied: "It's nothing, only the old story, he wants his
case to be tried by an English judge-they all do that-but when he
began to hint that the other side were in improper relations with
the native judge I had to shut him up. Gunga Ram, the man he
wanted to make insinuations about, may not be very bright; but
he's as honest as day-light on the bench. But that's just what one
can't get a native to believe."
"Do you really mean to say these people prefer to have their cases
tried by English judges?"
'Why, certainly."
Pagett drew a long breath. "I didn't know that before." At this
point a phaeton entered the compound, and Orde rose with
"Confound it, there's old Rasul Ah Khan come to pay one of his
tiresome duty calls. I'm afraid we shall never get through our little
Congress discussion.
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