“I tell you the meat is as sweet as a nosegay--and for the bread, it's good enough, and too good, for a set of lubbers, that lie shamming Abraham, and consuming the Right Honourable Company's victuals--I don't speak to them that are really sick, for God knows I am always for humanity.” “If that be the case, sir,” said Richard Middlemas, whose lair the Captain had approached, while he was thus answering the low and humble complaints of those by whose bed-side he passed--“if that be the case, sir, I hope your humanity will make you attend to what I say.” “And--who the devil are you?” said the Governor, turning on him his single eye of fire, while a sneer gathered on his harsh features, which were so well qualified to express it. “My name is Middlemas--I come from Scotland, and have been sent here by some strange mistake. I am neither a private soldier, nor am I indisposed, more than by the heat of this cursed place.” “Why then, friend, all I have to ask you is, whether you are an attested recruit or not?” “I was attested at Edinburgh,” said Middlemas, “but”-- “But what the devil would you have then?--you are enlisted--the Captain and the Doctor sent you here--surely they know best whether you are private or officer, sick or well.” “But I was promised,” said Middlemas, “promised by Tom Hillary”-- “Promised, were you? Why, there is not a man here that has not been promised something by somebody or another, or perhaps has promised something to himself. This is the land of promise, my smart fellow, but you know it is India that must be the land of performance. So, good morning to you. The Doctor will come his rounds presently and put you all to rights.” “Stay but one moment--one moment only--I have been robbed.” “Robbed! look you there now,” said the Governor--“everybody that comes here has been robbed.--Egad, I am the luckiest fellow in Europe--other people in my line have only thieves and blackguards upon their hands; but none come to my ken but honest, decent, unfortunate gentlemen, that have been robbed!” “Take care how you treat this so lightly, sir,” said Middlemas; “I have been robbed of a thousand pounds.” Here Governor Seelencooper's gravity was totally overcome, and his laugh was echoed by several of the patients, either because they wished to curry favour with the superintendent, or from the feeling which influences evil spirits to rejoice in the tortures of those who are sent to share their agony. “A thousand pounds!” exclaimed Captain Seelencooper, as he recovered his breath,--“Come, that's a good one--I like a fellow that does not make two bites of a cherry--why, there is not a cull in the ken that pretends to have lost more than a few hoggs, and here is a servant to the Honourable Company that has been robbed of a thousand pounds! Well done, Mr. Tom of Ten Thousand-you're a credit to the house, and to the service, and so good morning to you.”