There were Babus to whom Lurgan Sahib talked with austerity and authority , but at the end of each interview he gave them money in coined silver and currency notes . There were occasional gatherings of long-coated theatrical natives who discussed metaphysics in English and Bengali , to Mr Lurgan 's great edification . He was always interested in religions . At the end of the day , Kim and the Hindu boy -- whose name varied at Lurgan 's pleasure -- were expected to give a detailed account of all that they had seen and heard -- their view of each man 's character , as shown in his face , talk , and manner , and their notions of his real errand . After dinner , Lurgan Sahib 's fancy turned more to what might be called dressing-up , in which game he took a most informing interest . He could paint faces to a marvel ; with a brush-dab here and a line there changing them past recognition . The shop was full of all manner of dresses and turbans , and Kim was apparelled variously as a young Mohammedan of good family , an oilman , and once -- which was a joyous evening -- as the son of an Oudh landholder in the fullest of full dress . Lurgan Sahib had a hawk 's eye to detect the least flaw in the make-up ; and lying on a worn teak-wood couch , would explain by the half-hour together how such and such a caste talked , or walked , or coughed , or spat , or sneezed , and , since ` hows ' matter little in this world , the ` why ' of everything . The Hindu child played this game clumsily . That little mind , keen as an icicle where tally of jewels was concerned , could not temper itself to enter another 's soul ; but a demon in Kim woke up and sang with joy as he put on the changing dresses , and changed speech and gesture therewith . Carried away by enthusiasm , he volunteered to show Lurgan Sahib one evening how the disciples of a certain caste of fakir , old Lahore acquaintances , begged doles by the roadside ; and what sort of language he would use to an Englishman , to a Punjabi farmer going to a fair , and to a woman without a veil . Lurgan Sahib laughed immensely , and begged Kim to stay as he was , immobile for half an hour -- cross-legged , ash-smeared , and wild-eyed , in the back room . At the end of that time entered a hulking , obese Babu whose stockinged legs shook with fat , and Kim opened on him with a shower of wayside chaff . Lurgan Sahib -- this annoyed Kim -- watched the Babu and not the play . ' I think , ' said the Babu heavily , lighting a cigarette , ' I am of opeenion that it is most extraordinary and effeecient performance . Except that you had told me I should have opined that -- that -- that you were pulling my legs . How soon can he become approximately effeecient chain-man ? Because then I shall indent for him . ' ` That is what he must learn at Lucknow . ' ` Then order him to be jolly-dam ' - quick .
Good-night , XXXXX . '
Babu Babus Hindu Kim Lurgan Punjabi Sahib acquaintances jolly-dam oilman