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back— 'How much is there in this plate? If you had given it to her, wouldn't the other two girls have wanted their share?'
    Meanwhile, the peon shouted from outside — 'I am getting late.'
    Sharda — 'Why don't you tell him that you will not go at this hour?'
    'How can I? My job is at stake,' replied Fatehchand.
    'Does that mean that you will give your life for your job? Have you seen your face in a mirror? You look as if you have been ill for six months.'
    Fatehchand tossed a few bits into his mouth, gulped down a glass of water and ran out. The
paan,
which Sharda was making for him, remained uneaten.
    The peon said — '
Babu Jee!
You've taken a long time. Come along quickly now or he will rebuke you soundly.'
    Fatehchand replied — 'Whether he scolds me or shouts at me, I can walk only as fast as I can. He's in his bungalow, isn't he?'
    'Why should he be at the office at this hour? He is an Emperor, not a nobody!'
    The peon was used to walking fast. Babu Fatehchand was not. After some time he started panting. He kept on lifting his feet one after another until his thighs started paining. Then, his legs refused to cooperate. He was bathed in sweat and his head started reeling. Butterflies seemed to fly before his eyes.
    The peon shouted — 'Keep walking, Babu!'
    Fatehchand replied— 'You go ahead. I'll follow.'
    He sat down on the kerb with his head between his hands and tried to catch his breath. The peon went ahead.
    Fatehchand became frightened. What if the devil went and told the Saheb something?
    He pulled himself up and started walking again. He managed to reach the Saheb's bungalow. Saheb was pacing up and down in his verandah.
    On catching sight of the peon he shouted — 'What took you so long?'
    The peon replied — '
Huzoor!
What could I do? The Babu was taking his time. I've come running all the way.'
    'What did Babu say?'
    In the meantime, Fatehchand ducked under the boundary wire, saluted to the Saheb and stood before him with his head bent low.
    'Where were you all this time?' demanded the Saheb angrily.
    'Sir, I returned from office only just now. I set off as soon as the peon called out to me.'
    'You are lying. I've been standing here for an hour,' said the Saheb.
    'Sir, I do not lie. I can't walk very fast. I left my house as soon as the peon called me.'
    'Shut up, you swine! I have been waiting for an hour. Catch your ears!' roared the Saheb.
    '
Huzoor,
I have worked for you for ten years. I have never...'
    'Shut up! I order you to hold your ears!'
    'But what have I done?'
    'Chaprasi!
Hold this swine's ears or I'll flog you as well.'
    'Sir, I have come here to work, not to get beaten up. I am a respectable person. You can keep your job, Sir! I am willing to take any punishment you mete out to me, but I cannot attack another's honour.'
    The Saheb could not control his anger any further. He ran to get his walking stick. Seeing the Saheb's mood, the peon quietly slipped away. Fatehchand remained standing. Not finding the peon there, the Saheb caught Fatehchand by the ears and shook him.
    'How dare you disobey me? Go to the office at once and fetch the file.'
    Fatehchand asked humbly 'Sir, which file should I bring?'
    'File-File what else? Are you deaf? Can't you hear? I'm asking for the file.'
    Summoning up courage, Fatehchand spoke up — 'Which file do you require?'
    'The file I am asking for. Bring the same file. Bring it at once!'
    Fatehchand did not have the courage to ask anything more. The Saheb was very short-tempered. He was also drunk. If he hit him with his cane he would not be able to do anything. He quietly left for the office.
    'Go fast-Run!' Saheb shouted.
    'Sir, I am unable to run.'
    'Oh, you have become very lazy. I shall teach you how to run.' The Saheb gave him a violent push. 'Run! You will not run even now?'
    The Saheb went off to fetch his cane. Fatehchand realised he was in for a beating. But under these circumstances, his fate was only to get beaten