‘In love? With her? I have better things to look at. Don’t you know about us? In Bengal, my great-grandfather had six wives. Wherever he went, families would prostrate themselves at his feet and offer their daughter’s hand. Even today, all of Bengal wants to marry their daughters to us.’

‘Isn’t it illegal?’

‘It is now, but in the old days  . It’s different now. Why was Mr Thompson dismissed from the Tea Board?’

‘Must be something at the Board.’

‘But what was it? There are some rumours. Are they true?’

‘A matter of honour or something. How would I know? This drink is hard Banerjee,’ said Young, sipping some of the alcohol that was poured into his cup.

‘Vices of the poor hit harder. Do you see that Englishman with a turban? He is the mayor’s son,’ said Banerjee.

‘I wouldn’t have figured he was even Eurasian.’

‘He is the same man who had a sentry whipped for saluting him with the wrong hand. Here he is. I heard he likes taking “salutes” in the back. That Parsee is a partner in a law firm. Here you will find criminals and lawyers, mayors and murderers, all together.’

‘When are they not?’

Most men were quiet, staring into spaces far beyond the shop. Banerjee’s eyes were fixed somewhere around Young’s left eyebrow. When Young shifted his position, Banerjee’s gaze remained unchanged and now his eyes seemed to be glaring through the black wall. This was his first time, mixing opium and alcohol. The Chinese man glanced at the doorman. Later, the doorman would pick up Banerjee and deposit him in the rain outside. The Chinese man was the first to combine the two disparate empires. He had not only doubled the risk for himself, but also for others. Fixed men like Banerjee meant lost men and lost men meant more raids. Since the establishment of the Presbyterian Mission, the raids had increased. The priest would not complain at the police station. Instead, he would talk to the more orthodox of the higher ups in a department like revenue, powerful yet disassociated from the daily enforcement of criminal law. Soon enough the soft nudge would reach the local police station. The police inspector would send some constables, sometimes lead the charge himself. As the natives rose in the ranks of priesthood, they combined the worst of the orthodoxy and zealotry. In comparison, the Catholics were as blind as bats. Not exactly. They were inspired to contemplate—for they recorded their impressions in their diaries. It was towards action that they displayed an innate resistance. The Presbyterians were the opposite; for them contemplation was no virtue.