“He is not a rich capitalist yet, but one can’t say what might happen.”
“What firm does he carry his dealings with?”
“With the Government factory at Monghyr.”
“Is he a Mussalman or a Hindu?”
“He is a Hindu.”
“What is his name?”
“Protap Roy.”
“Where does he come from?”
“From a place near Murshidabad.”
“I have heard his name, he is an ordinary man.”
“He is a terrible man.”
“What is his object in rushing into this venture so suddenly?”
“He has done it to spite the Company’s factory at Calcutta.”
“He must be secured ; what tempts him most, can you say?”
“It is difficult to say without knowing what prompted him to this enterprise. If he has set about it as a paid servant then he can be bought up in no time. We can give him all kind of landed properties, but if there be something else, it will be a different matter.”
“What else can there be? What other object can he have in rushing into this enterprise?”
At this time the danseuse sang : “The nose—ring shines on the fair, fair face, &c.”
“Is that so?” said Mahatab Chand. “Who is the fair-faced one, pray?”
