generalofpubliceducation。
Thenwesatdownoncleanwhitecushions，andIwasattheking’srighthandThreeminuteslaterhewastellingmethattheconditionofthemaizecropwassomethingdisgraceful，andthattherailwaycompanieswouldnotpayhimenoughforhistimber。
ThetalkshiftedtoandfrowiththebottlesWediscussedverymanyquaintthings，andthekingbecameconfidentialonthesubjectofgovernmentgenerallyMostofallhedweltontheshortcomingsofoneofhissubjects，who，fromwhatIcouldgather，hadbeenparalyzingtheexecutive。
“Intheolddays。”saidtheking，’~IcouldhaveorderedtheelephantyondertotramplehimtodeathNowImuste’ensendhimseventymilesacrossthehillstobetried，andhiskeepforthattimewouldbeuponthestateAndtheelephanteatseverything。”
“Whatbetheman’scrimes，RajahSahib？”saidI。
“Firstly，heisan’outlander，’andnomanofmineownpeople。
Secondly，sinceofmyfavorIgavehimlanduponhiscoming，herefusestopayrevenueAmInotthelordoftheearth，aboveandbelow-entitledbyrightandcustomtoone-eighthofthecrop？Yetthisdevil，establishinghimself，refusestopayasingletaxandhebringsapoisonousspawnofbabes。”
“Casthimintojail。”Isaid。
“Sahib。”thekinganswered，shiftingalittleonthecushions，“onceandonlyonceinthesefortyyearssicknesscameuponmesothatI
wasnotabletogoabroadInthathourImadeavowtomyGodthatIwouldneveragaincutmanorwomanfromthelightofthesunandtheairofGod，forIperceivedthenatureofthepunishmentHowcanIbreakmyvow？Wereitonlytheloppingoffofahandorafoot，IshouldnotdelayButeventhatisimpossiblenowthattheEnglishhaveruleOneoranotherofmypeople“-helookedobliquelyatthedirector-generalofpubliceducation-“wouldatoncewritealettertotheviceroy，andperhapsIshouldbedeprivedofthatruffleofdrums。”
Heunscrewedthemouthpieceofhissilverwater-pipe，fittedaplainamberone，andpassedthepipetome“Notcontentwithrefusingrevenue。”hecontinued，“thisoutlanderrefusesalsotobeegar“thisisthecorveeorforcedlaborontheroads，“andstirsmypeopleuptotheliketreasonYetheis，ifsohewills，anexpertlog-snatcherThereisnonebetterorbolderamongmypeopletoclearablockoftheriverwhenthelogsstickfast。”
“Butheworshipsstrangegods。”saidtheprimeminister，deferentially。
“ForthatIhavenoconcern。”saidtheking，whowasastolerantasAkbarinmattersofbelief“Toeachmanhisowngod，andthefireorMotherEarthforusallatthelastItistherebellionthatoffendsme。”
“Thekinghasanarmy。”Isuggested“Hasnotthekingburnedtheman’shouse，andlefthimnakedtothenightdews？”
“NayAhutisahut，anditholdsthelifeofamanButonceIsentmyarmyagainsthimwhenhisexcusesbecamewearisomeOftheirheadshebrakethreeacrossthetopwithastickTheothertwomenranawayAlsothegunswouldnotshoot。”
IhadseentheequipmentoftheinfantryOne-thirdofitwasanoldmuzzle-loadingfowling-piecewithraggedrustholeswherethenipplesshouldhavebeen；one-thirdawireboundmatchlockwithaworm-eatenstock，andone-thirdafour-boreflintduck-gun，withoutaflint。
“Butitistoberemembered。”saidtheking，reachingoutforthebottle，“thatheisaveryexpertlog-snatcherandamanofamerryfaceWhatshallIdotohim，sahib？”
ThiswasinterestingThetimidhill-folkwouldassoonhaverefusedtaxestotheirkingasofferingstotheirgodsTherebelmustbeamanofcharacter。
“Ifitbetheking’spermission。”Isaid，“Iwillnotstrikemytentstillthethirdday，andIwillseethismanThemercyofthekingisgodlike，andrebellionislikeuntothesinofwitchcraftMoreover，boththebottles，andanother，beempty。”
“Youhavemyleavetogo。”saidtheking。
Nextmorningthecrierwentthroughthestareproclaimingthattherewasalog-jamontheriverandthatitbehoovedallloyalsubjectstoclearitThepeoplepoureddownfromtheirvillagestothemoist，warmvalleyofpoppyfields，andthekingandIwentwiththem。
Hundredsofdresseddeodarlogshad...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：