Magistrate. You don’t think your countrymen ought to try Europeans?
Deputy. Most certainly they should not. The glorious British Empire will come to an end if they do.
Magistrate. Well, Babu, I am glad to see you are so sensible. I wish all your countrymen were equally so; at least that all native magistrates were like you.
Deputy. Oh Sir! how can you expect it, when there are men at the top of our service who think differently.
Magistrate. Are you not yourself near the top? You must have served long.
Deputy. Unfortunately my claims to promotion have always been overlooked. I thought of speaking to you, Sir, on the subject.
Magistrate. You certainly deserve promotion. I will write to the Commissioner and see what can be done for you.
ডিপুটি তখন দুই হাতে সেলাম করিয়া উঠিয়া গেলেন। এই সময়ে জয়েণ্ট সাহেব, বড় সাহেবের কাছে আসিয়া উপস্থিত হইলেন। ডিপুটি বাহির হইয়া গেল জয়েণ্ট দেখিলেন। জয়েণ্ট, বড় সাহেবকে জিজ্ঞাসা করিলেন, “What could you have been saying to this fellow?”
Magistrate. Oh! He is very amusing.
Joint. How so?
Magistrate. He is both fool and knave. He thinks of pleasing me by traducing his own countrymen.
Joint. And did you tell him your mind?
Magistrate. O no! I promised him promotion, which I will try to get for him. He has at least the merit of not being conceited. A conceited native is perfectly useless as a subordinate, and I prefer encouraging men to make a moderate estimate of their own merits.
এ দিকে, ডিপুটি ফিরিয়া আসিলে পর, আর এক ডিপুটি বাবুর সঙ্গে তাঁহার সাক্ষাৎ হইল। দোশরা ডিপুটি জলধরকে বলিলেন, “সাহেবের কাছে গিয়াছিলেন না কি?”
