‘He was having his tiffin with the memsahib. We have orders never to come in when he is at tiffin. But your case is different. I put the card on a plate and took it in. He looked at it but didn’t say a word.’

Buta Singh began to feel thoroughly uncomfortable. If it had not been for the fact that Wazir Chand had admitted his inability to get permission for the Hindu procession, Buta Singh would never have taken on the task. He had reasoned that if he failed, it would not do him much damage; if he succeeded, his prestige amongst the Hindus of the city would greatly increase and that of Wazir Chand suffer. He was beginning to doubt the wisdom of his venture. He knew that Taylor did not like people coming to his house unless sent for and he was a stickler for appointments. He had fondly believed that those rules did not apply to him. Now he was not so sure of himself. It could, of course, have an innocent explanation and Taylor might apologize for keeping him waiting; in that case he would forgive him graciously.

‘What is it, Buta Singh?’

That is all Taylor said as he came out. He was still in his riding breeches and was smoking his after-breakfast cigarette. His shirt was drenched with perspiration and stuck to his chest.

Buta Singh stood up. ‘Good-morning, sir . . . I . . . I do not like disturbing Sahib at his residence unless it is something urgent.’

‘Well, what is it?’

‘Sahib’s order banning meetings and processions is being misconstrued by mischief makers as being directed only against the Hindus because it was promulgated after the Sikh and Muslim celebrations,’ said Buta Singh without a pause.

‘That is absolute nonsense. I am fed up of hearing about this Hindu, Sikh, Muslim business. Can’t you people get these notions out of your heads? The order has nothing to do with favouring one community or the other; and I don’t give a damn about what some silly people say. Is that all?’ Taylor’s cigarette shook in his hand as he took it to his mouth.

‘Sir, I felt it my duty to report. A deputation of the city’s leading Hindus called on Mr Wazir Chand when they heard that the order was to be passed. They wanted him to request you to postpone its promulgation by a few days. Mr Wazir Chand might have spoken to you about it.’ Buta Singh had not intended to take this line; but neither had he expected this kind of reception. Slight inaccuracies did not vitiate a substantial truth.

‘Wazir Chand said absolutely nothing. Changing the date of the order would have been a simple matter, but I do not like to take back my orders.’