It took him nearly five minutes to recover . Then he sniffed the new air appreciatively . ' A rich city , ' he said . ` Richer than Lahore . How good the bazars must be ! Coachman , drive me a little through the bazars here . ' ` My order is to take thee to the school . ' The driver used the ` thou ' , which is rudeness when applied to a white man . In the clearest and most fluent vernacular Kim pointed out his error , climbed on to the box-seat , and , perfect understanding established , drove for a couple of hours up and down , estimating , comparing , and enjoying . There is no city -- except Bombay , the queen of all -- more beautiful in her garish style than Lucknow , whether you see her from the bridge over the river , or from the top of the Imambara looking down on the gilt umbrellas of the Chutter Munzil , and the trees in which the town is bedded . Kings have adorned her with fantastic buildings , endowed her with charities , crammed her with pensioners , and drenched her with blood . She is the centre of all idleness , intrigue , and luxury , and shares with Delhi the claim to talk the only pure Urdu . ' A fair city -- a beautiful city . ' The driver , as a Lucknow man , was pleased with the compliment , and told Kim many astounding things where an English guide would have talked of the Mutiny . ` Now we will go to the school , ' said Kim at last . The great old school of St Xavier 's in Partibus , block on block of low white buildings , stands in vast grounds over against the Gumti River , at some distance from the city . ` What like of folk are they within ? ' said Kim . ` Young Sahibs -- all devils . But to speak truth , and I drive many of them to and fro from the railway station , I have never seen one that had in him the making of a more perfect devil than thou -- this young Sahib whom I am now driving . '
Naturally , for he was never trained to consider them in any way improper , XXXXX had passed the time of day with one or two frivolous ladies at upper windows in a certain street , and naturally , in the exchange of compliments , had acquitted himself well .
Bombay Delhi English Kim Sahib Sahibs Urdu Xavier bazars fro