and was ready to believe any lie against it and eager to do all in his
power to injure it.

The _Dewan_ said:

"Mr. Macgregor has been sent to tell us that his party pledges itself to
help us in Parliament."

"Yes, you need have no fear. We'll see that justice is done you," began the
politician in his best tub-thumping manner. "We Socialists and Communists
are determined to put an end to tyranny and oppression, whether of the
downtrodden slaves of Capitalism at home or our coloured brothers abroad.
The British working-man wants no colonies, no India. He is determined to
change everything in England and do away with all above him--kings, lords,
aristocrats, and the _bourgeoisie_. He demands Revolution, and we'll give
it him."

"Pardon me, Mr. Macgregor," remarked the engineer. "I've lived among
British working-men, when I was in the shops, but I never found that they
wanted revolution."

The Member of Parliament looked at him steadily for a moment and grinned.

"You're no fool, Mr. Chunerbutty. You're a lad after my own heart. You know
a thing or two. Perhaps you're right. But the British working-man lets us
represent him, and we know what's good for him, if he don't. We Socialists
run the Labour Party, and I promise you we'll back you up in Parliament if
you rebel and drive the English out of India."

"We shall do it, Mr. Macgregor," said the _Dewan_, confidently, "We are
co-ordinating all the organisations in the Punjaub, Bombay, and Bengal,
and we shall strike simultaneously. Afghan help has been promised, and
the Pathan tribesmen will follow the Amir's regiments into India. As I
told you, the Chinese and Bhutanese invasion is certain, and there are
neither troops nor fortifications along this frontier to stop it."

"That's right. You'll do it," said Macgregor. "The General Election
comes off in a few months, and our party is sure of victory. I am
authorised to assure you that our first act will be to give India
absolute independence. So you can do what you like. But don't kill the
white women and children--at least, not openly. They might not like it
in England, though personally I don't care if you massacre every damned
Britisher in the country. From what I've seen of 'em it's only what
they deserve. The insolence I've met with from those whipper-snapper
officers! And the civil officials would be as bad, if they dared.
Then their women--I wouldn't like to say what I think of _them_."

The _Dewan_ turned to