Roberts passed along a
corridor to His Highness's apartment, a curtain opened swiftly, and
some one in the dark behind spat at him. Amongst them they managed
to make His Highness extremely uncomfortable. But the old man
continued to decline obstinately to send the missionary back.
Then it became obvious to Surji Rao that Dr. Roberts must be
disposed of otherwise. He went about that in the same elaborate
and ingenious way. His arrangements required time, but there is
always plenty of time in Rajputana. He became friendly with Dr.
Roberts, and encouraged the hospital. He did not wish in any way
to be complicated with his arrangements. Nobody else became
friendly. Surji Rao took care of that. And at last one morning a
report went like wildfire about the palace and the city that the
missionary had killed a sacred bull, set free in honour of Krishna
at the birth of a son to Maun Rao, the chief of the Maharajah's
generals. Certainly the bull was found slaughtered behind the
monkey temple, and certainly Dr. Roberts had beefsteak for
breakfast that day. Such a clamour rang through the palace about
it that the Maharajah sent for the missionary, partly to inquire
into the matter, and partly with a view to protect him.
It was very unsatisfactory--the missionary did not know how the
bull came to be killed behind his house, and, in spite of all the
Maharajah's hints, would not invent a story to account for it.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63