I have heard ' -- this was a bow drawn at a venture -- ' I have heard -- ' ` What hast thou heard ? ' she snapped , rapping with the finger . ` Nothing that I well remember , but some talk in the bazars , which is doubtless a lie , that even Rajahs -- small Hill Rajahs -- ' ` But none the less of good Rajput blood . ' ` Assuredly of good blood . That these even sell the more comely of their womenfolk for gain . Down south they sell them -- to zemindars and such -- all of Oudh . ' If there be one thing in the world that the small Hill Rajahs deny it is just this charge ; but it happens to be one thing that the bazars believe , when they discuss the mysterious slave-traffics of India . The old lady explained to Kim , in a tense , indignant whisper , precisely what manner and fashion of malignant liar he was . Had Kim hinted this when she was a girl , he would have been pommelled to death that same evening by an elephant . This was perfectly true . ` Ahai ! I am only a beggar 's brat , as the Eye of Beauty has said , ' he wailed in extravagant terror . ` Eye of Beauty , forsooth ! Who am I that thou shouldst fling beggar-endearments at me ? ' And yet she laughed at the long-forgotten word . ` Forty years ago that might have been said , and not without truth . Ay . thirty years ago . But it is the fault of this gadding up and down Hind that a king 's widow must jostle all the scum of the land , and be made a mock by beggars . ' ` Great Queen , ' said Kim promptly , for he heard her shaking with indignation , ' I am even what the Great Queen says I am ; but none the less is my master holy .
He has not yet heard the Great XXXXX 's order that -- ' ` Order ?
India Kim Queen Rajahs beggar-endearments brat evening forsooth scum womenfolk