He wrung out his wet clothes , slipped on his patent-leather shoes , opened the blue-and-white umbrella , and with mincing gait and a heart beating against his tonsils appeared as ` agent for His Royal Highness , the Rajah of Rampur , gentlemen . What can I do for you , please ? ' The gentlemen were delighted . One was visibly French , the other Russian , but they spoke English not much inferior to the Babu 's . They begged his kind offices . Their native servants had gone sick at Leh . They had hurried on because they were anxious to bring the spoils of the chase to Simla ere the skins grew moth-eaten . They bore a general letter of introduction -LRB- the Babu salaamed to it orientally -RRB- to all Government officials . No , they had not met any other shooting-parties en route . They did for themselves . They had plenty of supplies . They only wished to push on as soon as might be . At this he waylaid a cowering hillman among the trees , and after three minutes ' talk and a little silver -LRB- one can not be economical upon State service , though Hurree 's heart bled at the waste -RRB- the eleven coolies and the three hangers-on reappeared . At least the Babu would be a witness to their oppression . ` My royal master , he will be much annoyed , but these people are onlee common people and grossly ignorant . If your honours will kindly overlook unfortunate affair , I shall be much pleased . In a little while rain will stop and we can then proceed . You have been shooting , eh ? That is fine performance ! ' He skipped nimbly from one kilta to the next , making pretence to adjust each conical basket .
The Englishman is not , as a rule , familiar with the Asiatic , but he would not strike across the wrist a kindly Babu who had accidentally upset a XXXXX with a red oilskin top .
Babu English French Rampur Russian coolies kilta minutes shooting-parties tonsils