The
Maharajah could have accounted for it fifty times over, if it had
happened to him. Besides, Dr. Roberts freely admitted having
breakfasted upon beefsteak, and didn't know where it had come from!
He rode home through an angry crowd, and nobody at all came for
medicines that day.
Two days later the Rajput general's baby died--could anything else
have been expected? The general went straight to the Maharajah to
ask for vengeance, but His Highness, knowing why the chief had
come, sent word that he was ill--he would see Maun Rao to-morrow.
To-morrow he had not recovered, nor even the day after; but in the
meantime he had been well enough to send word to Dr. Roberts that
if he wished to go away he should have two camels and an escort.
Dr. Roberts sent to ask whether Sunni might go with him, but to
this the Maharajah replied by an absolute 'No.'
So the missionary stayed.
It was Surji Rao who brought the final word to the Maharajah.
'My father and my mother!' he said, 'it is no longer possible to
hold the people back. It is cried abroad that this English
hakkim[1] has given the people powder of pig's feet. Even now they
have set upon his house. And to-day is the festival of Krishna.
My heart is bursting with grief.'
[1] 'Doctor.'
'If Maun Rao strikes, I can do nothing,' said the Maharajah weakly.
Pages:
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64