30 The Manager. 



" True, my friend, your village is good and your 

 lands are fair ; but you may well ask where such 

 rates can be found they are extortionate." 



" You misunderstand ; I want to imply that, for 

 the quality of the soil, the rates are low, too low. 

 I shall be ruined if I conclude with you on your hard 

 terms. I shall go back to the mahajun?' 



As you please, my friend ; I do not particularly 

 want your village. I but deemed I did you a favour. 

 Good-bye ! " Mutual grasping of hands ; exit zemin- 

 dar. 



This kind of mummery goes on for some time ; 

 the zemindar is proud and greedy, and the Manager, 

 who is dying for the village, would not show anxiety 

 for worlds. "He will come again," he says to him- 

 self ; and he is right : here he comes. His demands 

 are considerably less this time, and the Manager, in 

 a deprecating sort of way, agrees to consider his 

 proposals. The rent-roll of the village he has seen 

 ad nauseam. He has it all by heart that heart 

 which he has set upon the village. 



The zemindar proceeds : " 'Thejamma bundi of the 

 village is so much ; profits, deducting all expenses, 

 so much ; you will advance me so much money at 

 eight per cent ; in so many years at this interest, the 

 rent-roll of the village will liquidate your money, 

 principal and interest ; and, at the end of the term, 



