Itwasabroken-linkHandicapwithavengeanceItbrokenearlyallthemenconcerned，andnearlybroketheheartofShackles’owner。
HewentdowntointerviewBruntTheboylay，lividandgaspingwithfright，wherehehadtumbledoffThesinoflosingtheraceneverseemedtostrikehimAllheknewwasthatWhalleyhad“called“him，thatthe“call“wasawarning；and，werehecutintwoforit，hewouldnevergetupagainHisnervehadgonealtogether，andheonlyaskedhismastertogivehimagoodthrashing，andlethimgoHewasfitfornothing，hesaidHegothisdismissal，andcreptuptothepaddock，whiteaschalk，withbluelips，hiskneesgivingwayunderhimPeoplesaidnastythingsinthepaddock；
butBruntneverheededHechangedintotweeds，tookhisstickandwentdowntheroad，stillshakingwithfright，andmutteringoverandoveragain：——“Godha’mercy，I’mdonefor！”Tothebestofmyknowledgeandbeliefhespokethetruth。
SonowyouknowhowtheBroken-LinkHandicapwasrunandwonOfcourseyoudon’tbelieveitYouwouldcreditanythingaboutRussia’sdesignsonIndia，ortherecommendationsoftheCurrencyCommission；butalittlebitofsoberfactismorethanyoucanstand！
BEYONDTHEPALE。
“LoveheedsnotcastenorsleepabrokenbedIwentinsearchofloveandlostmyself。”
HinduProverb。
Amanshould，whateverhappens，keeptohisowncaste，raceandbreedLettheWhitegototheWhiteandtheBlacktotheBlack。
Then，whatevertroublefallsisintheordinarycourseofthings——
neithersudden，alien，norunexpected。
Thisisthestoryofamanwhowilfullysteppedbeyondthesafelimitsofdecentevery-daysociety，andpaidforitheavily。
Heknewtoomuchinthefirstinstance；andhesawtoomuchinthesecondHetooktoodeepaninterestinnativelife；buthewillneverdosoagain。
DeepawayintheheartoftheCity，behindJithaMegji’sbustee，liesAmirNath’sGully，whichendsinadead-wallpiercedbyonegratedwindowAttheheadoftheGullyisabigcow-byre，andthewallsoneithersideoftheGullyarewithoutwindowsNeitherSuchetSinghnorGaurChandapprovedoftheirwomen-folklookingintotheworldIfDurgaCharanhadbeenoftheiropinion，hewouldhavebeenahappiermanto-day，andlittleBiessawouldhavebeenabletokneadherownbreadHerroomlookedoutthroughthegratedwindowintothenarrowdarkGullywherethesunnevercameandwherethebuffaloeswallowedintheblueslimeShewasawidow，aboutfifteenyearsold，andsheprayedtheGods，dayandnight，tosendheralover；forshedidnotapproveoflivingalone。
Onedaytheman——Trejagohisnamewas——cameintoAmirNath’sGullyonanaimlesswandering；and，afterhehadpassedthebuffaloes，stumbledoverabigheapofcattlefood。
ThenhesawthattheGullyendedinatrap，andheardalittlelaughfrombehindthegratedwindowItwasaprettylittlelaugh，andTrejago，knowingthat，forallpracticalpurposes，theoldArabianNightsaregoodguides，wentforwardtothewindow，andwhisperedthatverseof“TheLoveSongofHarDyal“whichbegins：
CanamanstanduprightinthefaceofthenakedSun；
oraLoverinthePresenceofhisBeloved？
Ifmyfeetfailme，OHeartofmyHeart，amItoblame，beingblindedbytheglimpseofyourbeauty？
Therecamethefainttchinksofawoman’sbraceletsfrombehindthegrating，andalittlevoicewentonwiththesongatthefifthverse：
Alas！alas！CantheMoontelltheLotusofherlovewhentheGateofHeavenisshutandthecloudsgatherfortherains？
TheyhavetakenmyBeloved，anddrivenherwiththepack-horsestotheNorth。
Thereareironchainsonthefeetthatweresetonmyheart。
Calltothebowmantomakeready——
Thevoicestoppedsuddenly，andTrejagowalkedoutofAmirNath’sGully，wonderingwhointheworldcouldhavecapped“TheLoveSongofHarDyal“soneatly。
Nextmorning，ashewasdrivingtotheoffice，anoldwomanthrewapacketintohisdog-cartInthepacketwasthehalfofabrokenglassbangle，oneflowerofthebloodreddhak，apinchofbhusaorcattle-food，andelevencardamomsThatpacketwasaletter——notaclumsycompromisingletter，butaninnocent，unintelligiblelover’sepistle。
Trejagoknewfartoomuchaboutthesethings，asIhavesaidNoEnglishmanshouldbeabletotransla...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：