high  in  favour  at  Government  House.  But  if  Captain  and
Rissaldar  Major  No-bat  Khan,  the  native  aide-de-camp  who
receives  him  with  a  covert  smile  and  sends  in  his  private
card  to  the  ''Pryvit  Saheb  "  (Private  Secretary),  would  only
tell  what  he  knows!! — If  the  "  Pryvit  Saheb"  could  tell,
who  reads  his  name  with  curses  not  loud  but  deep,  and
orders  him  to  be  ushered  in,  simply  because  he  knows  if
he  does  not  see  him  then,  he  will  come  again  next  day,
and  next  day,  and  next,  till  he  obtains  admission.  It  is
nothing  that  it  is  English  mail  day,  and  the  "  Pry vit  Saheb"
is  writing  for  dear  life — this  bore  must  be  seen  first,  treated
patiently  and  got  rid  of,  or  what  would  Mr.  Abel  say? — And
the  globe-trotter,  sucking  in  lies  from  an  eminent  Congress-
walla  in  the  cosy  guest-room  upstairs,  what  would  he  say?
Are  not  our  Aryan  brethren  to  be  treated  *'with  the  utmost
consideration  ? "  (  Vide  Secretary  of  State's  despatch—  I  forget
the  number  of  it.)  So  the  poor  *'  Pryvit  Saheb  "  throws  down
his  pen  in  despair — composes  his  face  into  a  ghastly  smile
— wheels  round  his  chair,  says  to  the  scarlet  and  gold  Peon
in  attendance,  "■  Ane  do  (Let  him  come  in) — d — n —
ahem!  I  mean,  bless  him",  and  the  sacrifice  is  duly
accomplished ! !

If  *' Pryvit  Sahebs  "  could  only  divulge  their  experiences!
If  Mr.  G.  W.  H.  R.  H.  would  only  publish  all  he  suffered
in  days  gone-by,  the  book  would  be  as  fascinating  as
"  Greville's  Memoirs."

But  to  return  to  the  fascinating  Baba  Saheb!

We    left    him   on  the  narrow  pathway  in  Shanwar  Peith.
