Leaning on Ramoo's arm, Colonel Thorndyke made his way into the
house, and when the Hindoo had arranged the cushions of the sofa,
took his place there in a half reclining position.

"I am not always as bad as this, John," he said; "the jolting
of your confounded roads has been too much for me. If I were the
King I would hang every fellow who had anything to do with them--
contractors, boards of county magistrates, and the whole lot. If I
had known what it was going to be like I would have hired a sedan
chair, and had myself carried down. That is what I have been doing
in London; but I would rather have had an Indian palkee, that one
could have lain down comfortably in."

"What shall I get you first, George? I have got some lemons."

"I want something better than lemons, John. Have you any Burgundy
handy?"

"Yes, plenty."

"If you give a bottle to Ramoo he will know how much water I want."

Here the servants entered with a tray with a chicken and a dish of
kidneys.

"I sent up yesterday for some of the Indian things that you are
accustomed to, George, but they have not come down yet."

"I brought a store down with me. This will do capitally for the
present. Ramoo will do the cooking for me in future. He need not