"Sahibs, having no means of telling time, how can I guess?"
"How long ago? About how long ago?"
"Being elderly person of advancing years and much, adipose tissue, I
am not able to observe more than one thing at a time. And yet many
things have been forced on my attention. I do not know how long ago."
"Since I saw you outside the barrack gate?" demanded Warrington.
"Oh, yes. Oh, certainly. By all means!"
"Less than two hours ago, then, sir!" said Warrington, looking at
his watch.
"Then he isn't burned to death!" said Kirby, with more satisfaction
than he had expressed all the evening.
"Oh, no, sir! Positivelee not, sahib! The risaldar-major is all
vitalitee!"
"Where did he give you the ring?"
"Into the palm of my hand, sahib."
"Where--in what place--in what street--at whose house?"
"At nobody's house, sahib. It was in the dark, and the dark is very
big."
"Did he give it you at Yasmini's?"
"Oh, no, sahib! Positivelee not!"
"Where is he now?"
"Sahib, how should I know, who am but elderly person of no
metaphysical attainments, only failed B.A.?"
"What did he say when he gave it to you?"
"Sahib, he threatened me!"
"Confound you, what did he say?"
"He said, '_Babuji_, present this ring to Colonel Kirby sahib.
You will find him, _babuji_, where you will find him, but in any
case you will lose no time at all in finding him.
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