Justwhenthesilencewasgettingunendurable，thebodyturnedoverandrolledawayfromthebasintothesideoftheroom，whereitlaystomachupTherewasafaint“plop“fromthebasin——exactlylikethenoiseafishmakeswhenittakesafly——andthegreenlightinthecentrerevived。
　　Ilookedatthebasin，andsaw，bobbinginthewater，thedried，shrivelled，blackheadofanativebaby——openeyes，openmouthandshavedscalpItwasworse，beingsoverysudden，thanthecrawlingexhibitionWehadnotimetosayanythingbeforeitbegantospeak。
　　ReadPoe’saccountofthevoicethatcamefromthemesmerizeddyingman，andyouwillrealizelessthanone-halfofthehorrorofthathead’svoice。
　　Therewasanintervalofasecondortwobetweeneachword，andasortof“ring，ring，ring。”inthenoteofthevoice，likethetimbreofabellItpealedslowly，asiftalkingtoitself，forseveralminutesbeforeIgotridofmycoldsweatThentheblessedsolutionstruckmeIlookedatthebodylyingnearthedoorway，andsaw，justwherethehollowofthethroatjoinsontheshoulders，amusclethathadnothingtodowithanyman’sregularbreathing，twitchingawaysteadilyThewholethingwasacarefulreproductionoftheEgyptianteraphinthatonereadaboutsometimesandthevoicewasascleverandasappallingapieceofventriloquismasonecouldwishtohearAllthistimetheheadwas“lip-lip-lapping“againstthesideofthebasin，andspeakingIttoldSuddhoo，onhisfaceagainwhining，ofhisson’sillnessandofthestateoftheillnessuptotheeveningofthatverynightIalwaysshallrespecttheseal-cutterforkeepingsofaithfullytothetimeofthePeshawartelegramsItwentontosaythatskilleddoctorswerenightanddaywatchingovertheman’slife；andthathewouldeventuallyrecoverifthefeetothepotentsorcerer，whoseservantwastheheadinthebasin，weredoubled。
　　HerethemistakefromtheartisticpointofviewcameinToaskfortwiceyourstipulatedfeeinavoicethatLazarusmighthaveusedwhenherosefromthedead，isabsurdJanoo，whoisreallyawomanofmasculineintellect，sawthisasquicklyasIdidIheardhersay“Aslinahin！Fareib！”scornfullyunderherbreath；andjustasshesaidso，thelightinthebasindiedout，theheadstoppedtalking，andweheardtheroomdoorcreakonitshingesThenJanoostruckamatch，litthelamp，andwesawthathead，basin，andseal-
　　cutterweregoneSuddhoowaswringinghishandsandexplainingtoanyonewhocaredtolisten，that，ifhischancesofeternalsalvationdependedonit，hecouldnotraiseanothertwohundredrupeesAzizunwasnearlyinhystericsinthecorner；whileJanoosatdowncomposedlyononeofthebedstodiscusstheprobabilitiesofthewholethingbeingabunao，or“make-up。”
　　IexplainedasmuchasIknewoftheseal-cutter’swayofjadoo；butherargumentwasmuchmoresimple：——“Themagicthatisalwaysdemandinggiftsisnotruemagic。”saidshe“Mymothertoldmethattheonlypotentlove-spellsarethosewhicharetoldyouforloveThisseal-cuttermanisaliarandadevilIdarenottell，doanything，orgetanythingdone，becauseIamindebttoBhagwanDassthebunniafortwogoldringsandaheavyankletImustgetmyfoodfromhisshopTheseal-cutteristhefriendofBhagwanDass，andhewouldpoisonmyfoodAfool’sjadoohasbeengoingonfortendays，andhascostSuddhoomanyrupeeseachnightTheseal-cutterusedblackhensandlemonsandmantrasbeforeHenevershowedusanythinglikethistillto-nightAzizunisafool，andwillbeapurdahnashinsoonSuddhoohaslosthisstrengthandhiswitsSeenow！IhadhopedtogetfromSuddhoomanyrupeeswhilehelived，andmanymoreafterhisdeath；andbehold，heisspendingeverythingonthatoffspringofadevilandashe-ass，theseal-
　　cutter！”
　　HereIsaid：——“ButwhatinducedSuddhootodragmeintothebusiness？OfcourseIcanspeaktotheseal-cutter，andheshallrefundThewholethingischild’stalk——shame——andsenseless。”
　　“SuddhooISanoldchild。”saidJanoo“Hehaslivedontheroofstheseseventyyearsandisassenselessasamilch-goatHebroughtyouheretoassurehimselfthathewasnotbreakinganylawoftheSirkar，whosesaltheatemanyyearsagoHeworshipsthedustoffthefeetoftheseal-cutter，andthatcow-devourerhasforbiddenhimtogoandseehissonWhatdoesSuddhooknowofyourlawsorthelightning-post？Ihavetowatchhismoneygoingdaybydaytothatlyingbeastbelow。”
　　Janoostampedherfootonthefloorandnearlycriedwithvexation；
　　whileSuddhoowaswhimperingunderablanketinthecorner，andAzizunwastryingtoguidethepipe-stemtohisfoolisholdmouth……
　　NowthecasestandsthusUnthinkingly，Ihavelaidmyselfopentothechargeofaidingandabettingtheseal-cutterinobtainingmoneyunderfalsepretences，whichisforbiddenbySection420oftheIndianPenalCodeIamhelplessinthematterforthesereasons，I
　　cannotinformthePoliceWhatwitnesseswouldsupportmystatements？Janoorefusesflatly，AzizunisaveiledwomansomewherenearBareilly——lostinthisbigIndiaofoursIcannotagaintakethelawintomyownhands，andspeaktotheseal-cutter；
　　forcertainamIthat，notonlywouldSuddhoodisbelieveme，butthisstepwouldendinthepoisoningofJanoo，whoisboundhandandfootbyherdebttothebunniaSuddhooisanolddotard；andwheneverwemeetmumblesmyidioticjokethattheSirkarratherpatronizestheBlackArtthanotherwiseHissoniswellnow；butSuddhooiscompletelyundertheinfluenceoftheseal-cutter，bywhoseadviceheregulatestheaffairsofhislifeJanoowatchesdailythemoneythatshehopedtowheedleoutofSuddhootakenbytheseal-cutter，andbecomesdailymorefuriousandsullen。
　　Shewillnevertell，becauseshedarenot；but，unlesssomethinghappenstopreventher，Iamafraidthattheseal-cutterwilldieofcholera——thewhitearsenickind——aboutthemiddleofMayAndthusIshallhavetobeprivytoamurderintheHouseofSuddhoo。
　　HISWEDDEDWIFE。
　　Cry“Murder！”inthemarket-place，andeachWillturnuponhisneighboranxiouseyesThatask：——“Artthoutheman？”WehuntedCain，Somecenturiesago，acrosstheworld，ThatbredthefearourownmisdeedsmaintainTo-day。
　　Vibart’sMoralities。
　　Shakespearesayssomethingaboutworms，oritmaybegiantsorbeetles，turningifyoutreadonthemtooseverelyThesafestplanisnevertotreadonaworm——notevenonthelastnewsubalternfromHome，withhisbuttonshardlyoutoftheirtissuepaper，andtheredofsappyEnglishbeefinhischeeksThisisthestoryofthewormthatturnedForthesakeofbrevity，wewillcallHenryAugustusRamsayFaizanne，“TheWorm。”althoughhereallywasanexceedinglyprettyboy，withoutahaironhisface，andwithawaistlikeagirl’swhenhecameouttotheSecond“Shikarris“andwasmadeunhappyinseveralwaysThe“Shikarris“areahigh-casteregiment，andyoumustbeabletodothingswell——playabanjoorridemorethanalittle，orsing，oract——togetonwiththem。
　　TheWormdidnothingexceptfalloffhispony，andknockchipsoutofgate-postswithhistrapEventhatbecamemonotonousafteratimeHeobjectedtowhist，cuttheclothatbilliards，sangoutoftune，keptverymuchtohimself，andwrotetohisMammaandsistersatHomeFourofthesefivethingswereviceswhichthe“Shikarris“
　　objectedtoandsetthemselvestoeradicateEveryoneknowshowsubalternsare，bybrothersubalterns，softenedandnotpermittedtobeferociousItisgoodandwholesome，anddoesnooneanyharm，unlesstempersarelost；andthenthereistroubleTherewasamanonce——butthatisanotherstory。
　　The“Shikarris“shikarredTheWormverymuch，andheboreeverythingwithoutwinkingHewassogoodandsoanxioustolearn，andflushedsopink，thathiseducationwascutshort，andhewaslefttohisowndevicesbyeveryoneexcepttheSeniorSubaltern，whocontinuedtomakelifeaburdentoTheWormTheSeniorSubalternmeantnoharm；buthischaffwascoarse，andhedidn’tquiteunderstandwheretostopHehadbeenwaitingtoolongforhiscompany；andthatalwayssoursamanAlsohewasinlove，whichmadehimworse。
　　Oneday，afterhehadborrowedTheWorm’strapforaladywhoneverexisted，hadusedithimselfalltheafternoon，hadsentanotetoTheWormpurportingtocomefromthelady，andwastellingtheMessallaboutit，TheWormroseinhisplaceandsaid，inhisquiet，ladylikevoice：“Thatwasaveryprettysell；butI’lllayyouamonth’spaytoamonth’spaywhenyougetyourstep，thatIworkasellonyouthatyou’llrememberfortherestofyourdays，andtheRegimentafteryouwhenyou’redeadorbroke。”TheWormwasn’tangryintheleast，andtherestoftheMessshoutedThentheSeniorSubalternlookedatTheWormfromthebootsupwards，anddownagain，andsaid，“Done，Baby。”TheWormtooktherestoftheMesstowitnessthatthebethadbeentaken，andretiredintoabookwithasweetsmile。
　　Twomonthspassed，andtheSeniorSubalternstilleducatedTheWorm，whobegantomoveaboutalittlemoreasthehotweathercameon。
　　I
　　havesaidthattheSeniorSubalternwasinloveThecuriousthingisthatagirlwasinlovewiththeSeniorSubalternThoughtheColonelsaidawfulthings，andtheMajorssnorted，andmarriedCaptainslookedunutterablewisdom，andthejuniorsscoffed，thosetwowereengaged。
　　TheSeniorSubalternwassopleasedwithgettinghisCompanyandhisacceptanceatthesametimethatheforgottobotherTheWorm。
　　Thegirlwasaprettygirl，andhadmoneyofherownShedoesnotcomeintothisstoryatall。
　　Onenight，atthebeginningofthehotweather，alltheMess，exceptTheWorm，whohadgonetohisownroomtowriteHomeletters，weresittingontheplatformoutsidetheMessHouseTheBandhadfinishedplaying，butnoonewantedtogoinAndtheCaptains’
　　wivesweretherealsoThefollyofamaninloveisunlimited。
　　TheSeniorSubalternhadbeenholdingforthonthemeritsofthegirlhewasengagedto，andtheladieswerepurringapproval，whilethemenyawned，whentherewasarustleofskirtsinthedark，andatired，faintvoicelifteditself：
　　“Where’smyhusband？”
　　Idonotwishintheleasttoreflectonthemoralityofthe“Shikarris；“butitisonrecordthatfourmenjumpedupasiftheyhadbeenshotThreeofthemweremarriedmenPerhapstheywereafraidthattheirwiveshadcomefromHomeunbeknownstThefourthsaidthathehadactedontheimpulseofthemomentHeexplainedthisafterwards。
　　Thenthevoicecried：——“Oh，Lionel！”LionelwastheSeniorSubaltern’snameAwomancameintothelittlecircleoflightbythecandlesonthepeg-tables，stretchingoutherhandstothedarkwheretheSeniorSubalternwas，andsobbingWerosetoourfeet，feelingthatthingsweregoingtohappenandreadytobelievetheworstInthisbad，smallworldofours，oneknowssolittleofthelifeofthenextman——which，afterall，isentirelyhisownconcern——
　　thatoneisnotsurprisedwhenacrashcomesAnythingmightturnupanydayforanyonePerhapstheSeniorSubalternhadbeentrappedinhisyouthMenarecrippledthatwayoccasionallyWedidn’tknow；wewantedtohear；andtheCaptains’wiveswereasanxiousasweIfheHADbeentrapped，hewastobeexcused；forthewomanfromnowhere，inthedustyshoes，andgraytravellingdress，wasverylovely，withblackhairandgreateyesfulloftearsShewastall，withafinefigure，andhervoicehadarunningsobinitpitifultohearAssoonastheSeniorSubalternstoodup，shethrewherarmsroundhisneck，andcalledhim“mydarling。”andsaidshecouldnotbearwaitingaloneinEngland，andhislettersweresoshortandcold，andshewashistotheendoftheworld，andwouldheforgiveherThisdidnotsoundquitelikealady’swayofspeakingItwastoodemonstrative。
　　Thingsseemedblackindeed，andtheCaptains’wivespeeredundertheireyebrowsattheSeniorSubaltern，andtheColonel’sfacesetliketheDayofJudgmentframedingraybristles，andnoonespokeforawhile。
　　NexttheColonelsaid，veryshortly：——“Well，Sir？”andthewomansobbedafreshTheSeniorSubalternwashalfchokedwiththearmsroundhisneck，buthegaspedout：——“It’sad——dlie！Ineverhadawifeinmylife！”“Don’tswear。”saidtheColonel“ComeintotheMessWemustsiftthisclearsomehow。”andhesighedtohimself，forhebelievedinhis“Shikarris。”didtheColonel。
　　Wetroopedintotheante-room，underthefulllights，andtherewesawhowbeautifulthewomanwasShestoodupinthemiddleofusall，sometimeschokingwithcrying，thenhardandproud，andthenholdingoutherarmstotheSeniorSubalternItwaslikethefourthactofatragedyShetoldushowtheSeniorSubalternhadmarriedherwhenhewasHomeonleaveeighteenmonthsbefore；
　　andsheseemedtoknowallthatweknew，andmoretoo，ofhispeopleandhispastlifeHewaswhiteandashygray，tryingnowandagaintobreakintothetorrentofherwords；andwe，notinghowlovelyshewasandwhatacriminalhelooked，esteemedhimabeastoftheworstkindWefeltsorryforhim，though。
　　IshallneverforgettheindictmentoftheSeniorSubalternbyhiswifeNorwillheItwassosudden，rushingoutofthedark，unannounced，intoourdulllivesTheCaptains’wivesstoodback；