human
The old man swears he will turn out Ratan Singh--whoever he may have been--and give the poor chaps a _pucca_ funeral in the shrine itself,
gpt
I was not aware that we fought with the dead,
human
Seems rayther a spicy idea to me, drawled another.
gpt
They do our fellows out of a grave, so we prig one of theirs for 'em.
human
Surely we can do better for them than a second-hand tomb, said Gerrard, more emphatically than he realised.
gpt
Wouldn't it be more to the purpose to leave Ratan Singh in peace, since he has done us no injury, and punish the living who deserve it?
human
Eh--what? demanded an explosive voice behind the group.
gpt
And who may you be, young sir, who think your opinion so well worth hearing?
human
My name is Gerrard, sir, and I am attached to the Habshiabad force.
gpt
Oho! General Speathley drew out with some difficulty an eyeglass, and fixing it in his eye, looked up at Gerrard as though he had been too small to see without it.
human
So this is another of the sucking Caesars who command armies in Granthistan! And what, pray, may be the nature of your very valuable suggestion, sir?
gpt
I have acted as Resident at Agpur, sir, and know something about the people, and I was about to say that they would be far more impressed with the retribution if we buried our glorious dead in the very midst of the city from which they were driven rather than in an old tomb outside it.
human
Proceed, sir, proceed! he snapped ferociously.
gpt
I'll be bound we haven't been favoured with the full extent of your views yet.
human
I have no more to say, sir, if the petty and unchristian course of turning a dead man out of his grave has already been decided upon.
gpt
I thought so! cried the General in triumph.
human
Antony's cursed sentimental notions, of course--might have known it. You are one of those who prefer the blackfellows to your own people, sir, who think the lives of the Company's servants are nothing compared with the fear of displeasing the natives.
gpt
At least, sir, I placed myself at Mr Charteris's disposal to rescue or avenge Captain Cowper and Mr Nisbet, or your army might not have been here to-day. And you will permit me to add that I still consider my plan likely to be more impressive, if less disgusting, to the natives than yours.
human
And you'll permit me to say, sir, roared the General, whose eyes were protruding from his head,
gpt
Hum--ha! he muttered,
human
I am honoured by the omission, sir,