“And what do you think,” he said casually, “of our proposal to make you all pay for your Greek?” Mohendra beamed. “I think, sir, that it cannot be _your_ proposal.” “It isn’t,” said Ancram sententiously. “If it becomes law, it will be the signal for a great disturbance. I mean, off course,” the Baboo hastened to add, “of a pa_cific_ kind. No violence, of course! Morally speaking the community is already up in arms—_morally_ speaking! It is destructive legislation, sir; we _must_ protest.” “I don’t blame you for that.” “Then you do not yourself approve off it?” “I think it’s a mistake. Well-intentioned, but a mistake.” “Oh, the _intention_, that iss good! But impracticable,” Mohendra ventured vaguely: “a bubble in the air—that is all; but the question i—iz,” he went on, “will it become law? Yesterday only I first heard offitt. Mentally I said, ‘I will go to my noble friend and find out for myself the rights offitt!’ _Then_ I will act.” “Oh, His Honour intends to put it through. If you mean to do anything there’s no time to lose.” Ancram assured himself afterwards that between his duty as an administrator and his private sentiment toward his chief there could be no choice. “We will petition the Viceroy.” Ancram shook his head. “Time wasted. The Viceroy will stick to Church.” “Then we can petition the Secretary-off-State.” “That might be useful, if you get the right names.” “We will have it fought out in Parliament. Mr. Dadabhai——” “Yes,” Ancram responded with a smile, “Mr. Dadabhai——” “There will be mass meetings on the Maidan.” “Get them photographed and send them to the _Illustrated London News_.” “And every paper will be agitating it. The _Free Press_, the _Hindu Patriot_, the _Bengalee_—all offthem will be writing about it——” “There is one thing you must remember if the business goes to England—the converts of these colleges from which State aid is to be withdrawn.” “Christians?” Mohendra shook his head with a smile of contempt. “There are none. It iss not to change their religion that the Hindus go to college.” “Ah!” returned Ancram. “There are none? That is a pity. Otherwise you might have got them photographed too, for the illustrated papers.” “Yes. It iss a pity.” Mohendra reflected profoundly for a moment. “But I will remember what you say about the fottograff—if any can be found.” “Well, let me know how you get on. In my private capacity—in my _private_ capacity, remember—as the friend and well-wisher of the people, I shall be interested in what you do. Of course I talk rather freely to you, Baboo, because we know each other well. I have not concealed my opinion in this matter at any time, but for all that it mustn’t be known that I have active sympathies. You understand. This is entirely confidential.” “Oh, offcourse! my gracious goodness, yes!”