by on a tired horse, and, seeing from her retinue what manner of person she was, chaffed her.
“O mother,” he cried, “do they do this in the zenanas ? Suppose an Englishman came by and saw that thou hast no nose?”
“What?” she shrilled back. “Thine own mother has no nose? Why say so, then, on the open road?”
It was a fair counter. The Englishman threw up his hand with the gesture of a man hit at swordplay. She laughed and nodded.
“Is this a face to tempt virtue aside?” She withdrew all her veil and stared at him.
It was by no means lovely, but as the man gathered up his reins he called it a Moon of Paradise, a Disturber of Integrity, and a few other fantastic epithets which doubled her up with mirth.
“That is a nut-cut ,” she said. “All police-constables are nut-cuts ; but the police-wallahs are the worst. Hai, my son, thou hast never learned all that since thou camest from Belait. Who suckled thee?”