"He must be very far away by this time.

How many are there, I wonder, in India who have such things said of them when their backs are turned ?" "More than a few, sahib! I would draw steel for the good name of more than a hundred men whom I know, and there be many others!" "Men of your own race ?" "And yours, sahib." There was no bombast in the man's voice; it was said good-naturedly, as a man might say, "There are some friends to whom I would lend money." No man with any insight could mistake the truth that underlay the boast.
The Scotsman bowed.
"I am glad, indeed, to have met you.

Will you sit down a little while ?" "Nay, sahib.

The hour is late.

I was but keeping the blood moving in this horse of mine." "Well, tell me, since you won't stay, have you any notion who the man was whom Mahommed Gunga sent to get my letters?
My daughter handed them to him one evening, late, at this door." "I am he, sahib." "Then--I understood--perhaps I was mistaken--I thought it was his man who came ?" "Praised be Allah, I am his man, sahib!" "Oh! I wonder whether my servants praise God for the privilege!" McClean made the remark only half-aloud and in English.