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 Queen 's order that -- ' ` Order ? I order a Holy One -- a Teacher of the Law -- to come and speak to a woman ? Never ! ' ` Pity my stupidity . I thought it was given as an order -- ' ` It was not . It was a petition . Does this make all clear ? ' A silver coin clicked on the edge of the cart .
XXXXX took it and salaamed profoundly .
Ay Hind Kim Law Queen beggar-endearments brat evening forsooth scum