“Why not follow the Way thyself, and so accompany the boy?”
Mahbub stared stupefied at the magnificent insolence of the demand, which across the Border he would have paid with more than a blow. Then the humour of it touched his worldly soul.
“Softly—softly—one foot at a time, as the lame gelding went over the Umballa jumps. I may come to Paradise later—I have workings that way—great motions—and I owe them to thy simplicity. Thou hast never lied?”
“What need?”
“O Allah, hear him! ‘What need’ in this Thy world! Nor ever harmed a man?”
“Once—with a pencase—before I was wise.”
“So? I think the better of thee. Thy teachings are good. Thou hast turned one man that I know from the path of strife.” He laughed immensely. “He came here open-minded to commit a dacoity . Yes, to cut, rob, kill, and carry off what he desired.”
“A great foolishness!”
“Oh! black shame too. So he thought after he had seen thee—and a few others, male and female. So he abandoned it; and now he goes to beat a big fat Babu man.”
“I do not understand.”