Page:Ramtanu Lahiri, Brahman and Reformer - A History of the Renaissance in Bengal.djvu/57

When the suit was going on, it happened that one night a gang of dakaits broke into his house. This he tried to turn into a weapon against us, by deposing before the Magistrate that the Dewan Babu and his brothers had instigated the dakaits, and that some of the Chowkidars of our house had been found in their gang. Uncle Tarakanta with his brother, to avoid being arrested by the police, sought protection in the Rajbatti. They enjoyed the sympathy of their neighbours; and these, much annoyed with the Khansama, said to the investigating Daroga that they knew of no dakaiti having been committed in the neighbourhood; and he on their evidence reported to the authorities, that the whole affair had been got up by the plaintiff. The Peshkar in the Magistrate’s Court sent word to our guardians that they could at little cost and trouble send the bringer of this false accusation against them to jail. All our friends and relations wished to make an example of him; but Uncle Tarakanta without heeding their wishes said: ‘It is enough that we are ourselves out of trouble. It is no use proceeding against a fool like the Khansama.’ Such a forgiving spirit is rare indeed. One night in winter, having returned from the Rajbatti, Uncle Tarakanta found his bed occupied by his cook, whose custom had always been to attend on his master at his evening meal, and then to retire. He thought that the poor Brahman was not well; and so, instead of disturbing him, he laid himself down on two pieces of Kushachon (a small mat formed by the texture of Kush, a species of grass, seated on which Brahmans say their prayers, and do other devotional duties), and, wrapping himself in only a piece of shawl, resigned himself to sleep. Knowing that the Raja was fond of news, someone who had seen the Dewan in this plight, hastened to him the next morning with the intelligence. On this the Raja, anxious to know