He did not ask them to sit down but dismissed them with a short speech: ‘Gentlemen, I am sorry to have sent for you at short notice. You have no doubt read the news of the arrest of some political leaders. We are not concerned with the rights or wrongs of the decision; we have to carry out the orders of the Government. Our hands are strengthened by the fact that the Government of the Punjab thoroughly disapproves of the position taken by the leaders of the Nationalist party and fortunately the Nationalists have very little following here. We are not expecting any trouble from our own people but mischief makers may come in from other provinces. We have to be vigilant. We have powers to detain people on suspicion. These powers are not to be abused; but we must not hesitate to make use of them whenever necessary. We have to co-operate with the police in maintaining law and order. If you have any information of importance or need my advice, come to me without hesitation. That is all for the moment. Thank you.’

Taylor turned away without shaking hands again. He paused at the door. ‘Buta Singh, do you mind waiting! I want to have a word with you.’

A minute later Taylor came back to the sitting-room and asked Buta Singh to sit down beside him on the sofa. He knocked his pipe against his heel and blew in it. He filled it with tobacoo, lit it, pressed the tobacoo with the matchbox, and took a few puffs with noisy ‘Urn urns.’ Buta Singh was quite used to the trick; it no longer played on his nerves. He waited patiently for the Englishman to begin.

‘Buta Singh, I am a little worried and want your advice.’

‘Whatever little service I can perform! I am at your disposal.’ Buta Singh rubbed his hands with obsequious eagerness.

Taylor produced a copy of a cyclostyled leaflet. Buta Singh read the exhortation by the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army to rise against the British. ‘The Police Commissioner has given me this thing,’ continued Taylor. ‘The envelope bears a city postmark. He says we can presume it was also printed here. That is the most he can say. It may be the doing of some one individual who may do nothing more. It is also possible that there is some sort of organization in the city which has violent aims and is planning to put them in effect. If that is so it must be tracked down and its plans nipped in the bud.’

‘Before it can do any mischief,’ added Buta Singh.

‘Precisely.’

They both became silent. Buta Singh expected Taylor to tell him what he wanted him to do. Taylor believed the hint was good enough. Then, seeing that Buta Singh had not taken the cue, added, ‘Can you help in tracking down these people?’