Roberts,
might take him back to his own people at his personal risk and
expense; that inquiries might at least be set on foot to find his
relatives.
'Yes,' said the Maharajah, 'but not yet, ee-Wobbis. The boy will
be well here for a year, and you shall teach him. At the end of
that time we will speak again of this matter.'
Dr. Roberts was not satisfied. He asked the Maharajah at all
events to allow Sunni to live with him in his empty jail, but His
Highness refused absolutely.
'And look you, ee-Wobbis,' said he, 'I have promised the Viceroy in
Calcutta that you shall be safe in my country, and you shall be
safe, though I never asked you to come here. But if any khaber
goes to Calcutta about this boy, and if there is the least
confusion regarding him, your mouth shall be stopped, and you shall
not talk any more to my people. For my part, I do not like your
medicines, and you have not yet cured Proteb Singh of his short
leg; he goes as lame as ever!'
This was Dr. Roberts' difficulty; his mouth would be stopped. He
did not doubt the Maharajah. If he wrote to Calcutta that a Rajput
prince still held a hostage from the Mutiny, and made a
disturbance, there would be an end to the work he had begun under
the shadow of the palace wall. And the work was prospering so
well! The people were listening now, Dr.
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