What he desired was the visible effect of action ; so , instead of slinking away , he lay close in the grass and wormed nearer to the house . He saw -- Indian bungalows are open through and through -- the Englishman return to a small dressing-room , in a comer of the veranda , that was half office , littered with papers and despatch-boxes , and sit down to study Mahbub Ali 's message . His face , by the full ray of the kerosene lamp , changed and darkened , and Kim , used as every beggar must be to watching countenances , took good note . ` Will ! Will , dear ! ' called a woman 's voice . ` You ought to be in the drawing-room . They 'll be here in a minute . ' The man still read intently . ` Will ! ' said the voice , five minutes later . ` He 's come . I can hear the troopers in the drive . ' The man dashed out bareheaded as a big landau with four native troopers behind it halted at the veranda , and a tall , black haired man , erect as an arrow , swung out , preceded by a young officer who laughed pleasantly . Flat on his belly lay Kim , almost touching the high wheels . His man and the black stranger exchanged two sentences . ` Certainly , sir , ' said the young officer promptly . ` Everything waits while a horse is concerned . ' ` We sha n't be more than twenty minutes , ' said Kim 's man . ` You can do the honours -- keep 'em amused , and all that . '
` Tell one of the troopers to wait , ' said the tall man , and they both passed into the XXXXX together as the landau rolled away .
Ali Englishman Kim bungalows countenances despatch-boxes dressing-room honours minute minutes