He led the horses below the main road into the lower Simla bazar -- the crowded rabbit-warren that climbs up from the valley to the Town Hall at an angle of forty-five . A man who knows his way there can defy all the police of India 's summer capital , so cunningly does veranda communicate with veranda , alley-way with alley-way , and bolt-hole with bolt-hole . Here live those who minister to the wants of the glad city -- jhampanis who pull the pretty ladies ' ` rickshaws by night and gamble till the dawn ; grocers , oil-sellers , curio-vendors , firewood-dealers , priests , pickpockets , and native employees of the Government . Here are discussed by courtesans the things which are supposed to be profoundest secrets of the India Council ; and here gather all the sub-sub-agents of half the Native States . Here , too , Mahbub Ali rented a room , much more securely locked than his bulkhead at Lahore , in the house of a Mohammedan cattle-dealer . It was a place of miracles , too , for there went in at twilight a Mohammedan horseboy , and there came out an hour later a Eurasian lad -- the Lucknow girl 's dye was of the best -- in badly-fitting shop-clothes . ' I have spoken with Creighton Sahib , ' quoth Mahbub Ali , ` and a second time has the Hand of Friendship averted the Whip of Calamity . He says that thou hast altogether wasted sixty days upon the Road , and it is too late , therefore , to send thee to any Hill-school . ' ' I have said that my holidays are my own . I do not go to school twice over . That is one part of my bond . ' ` The Colonel Sahib is not yet aware of that contract . Thou art to lodge in Lurgan Sahib 's house till it is time to go again to Nucklao . ' ' I had sooner lodge with thee , Mahbub . ' ` Thou dost not know the honour . Lurgan Sahib himself asked for thee . Thou wilt go up the hill and along the road atop , and there thou must forget for a while that thou hast ever seen or spoken to me , Mahbub Ali , who sells horses to Creighton Sahib , whom thou dost not know . Remember this order . ' Kim nodded . ` Good , ' said he , ` and who is Lurgan Sahib ?
Nay ' -- he caught XXXXX 's sword-keen glance -- ` indeed I have never heard his name .
Ali Eurasian India Mahbub Nucklao Sahib alley-way cattle-dealer days pickpockets