He raised his voice respectfully : ` Sahiba , the hakim sleeps after his meat . He is in the quarters behind the dovecote . ' Kim bristled like an expectant terrier . To outface and down-talk a Calcutta-taught Bengali , a voluble Dacca drug-vendor , would be a good game . It was not seemly that the lama , and incidentally himself , should be thrown aside for such an one . He knew those curious bastard English advertisements at the backs of native newspapers . St Xavier 's boys sometimes brought them in by stealth to snigger over among their mates ; for the language of the grateful patient recounting his symptoms is most simple and revealing . The Oorya , not unanxious to play off one parasite against the other , slunk away towards the dovecote . ` Yes , ' said Kim , with measured scorn . ` Their stock-in-trade is a little coloured water and a very great shamelessness . Their prey are broken-down kings and overfed Bengalis . Their profit is in children -- who are not born . ' The old lady chuckled . ` Do not be envious . Charms are better , eh ? I never gainsaid it . See that thy Holy One writes me a good amulet by the morning . ' ` None but the ignorant deny ' -- a thick , heavy voice boomed through the darkness , as a figure came to rest squatting -- ` None but the ignorant deny the value of charms . None but the ignorant deny the value of medicines . ' ' A rat found a piece of turmeric .
Said he : `` I will open a grocer 's shop , '' ' XXXXX retorted .
English Kim Oorya Sahiba Xavier drug-vendor hakim lama quarters stock-in-trade