CHAPTER IV

usalternative.“Idonotseewhyweshouldmakeourselvescheap.Idonotseewhyweshould.Theinvitationiswordedverygraciously.”Feelingthathecouldnotfurtherdecreasethesocialgulfbetweenhimselfandhisauditors,hesenthiselegantgrandson,whowasinattendanceonhim,tofetchhiscar.Whenitcame,herepeatedallthathehadsaidbefore,thoughatgreaterlength,endingupwith“TillTuesday,then,gentlemenall,whenIhopewemaymeetintheflowergardensoftheclub.” Thisopinioncarriedgreatweight.TheNawabBahadurwasabigproprietorandaphilanthropist,amanofbenevolenceanddecision.Hischaracteramongallthecommunitiesintheprovincestoodhigh.Hewasastraightforwardenemyandastaunchfriend,andhishospitalitywasproverbial.“Give,donotlendafterdeathwhowillthankyou?”washisfavouriteremark.Hehelditadisgracetodierich.Whensuchamanwaspreparedtomotortwenty-fivemilestoshaketheCollector’shand,theentertainmenttookanotheraspect.Forhewasnotlikesomeeminentmen,whogiveoutthattheywillcome,andthenfailat