YouwilladmitthatReggiehadreasontocallhisnewAccountantaNaturalCuriosityThetwomenfailedtohititoffatallRileyconsideredReggieawild，feather-headedidiot，giventoHeavenonlyknewwhatdissipationinlowplacescalled“Messes。”andtotallyunfitfortheseriousandsolemnvocationofbankingHecouldnevergetoverReggie’slookofyouthand“you-be-damned“air；
　　andhecouldn’tunderstandReggie’sfriends——clean-built，carelessmenintheArmy——whorodeovertobigSundaybreakfastsattheBank，andtoldsultrystoriestillRileygotupandlefttheroomRileywasalwaysshowingReggiehowthebusinessoughttobeconducted，andReggiehadmorethanoncetoremindhimthatsevenyears’limitedexperiencebetweenHuddersfieldandBeverlydidnotqualifyamantosteerabigup-countrybusinessThenRileysulkedandreferredtohimselfasapillaroftheBankandacherishedfriendoftheDirectors，andReggietorehishairIfaman’sEnglishsubordinatesfailhiminthiscountry，hecomestoahardtimeindeed，fornativehelphasstrictlimitationsInthewinterRileywentsickforweeksatatimewithhislungcomplaint，andthisthrewmoreworkonReggieButhepreferredittotheeverlastingfrictionwhenRileywaswell。
　　OneoftheTravellingInspectorsoftheBankdiscoveredthesecollapsesandreportedthemtotheDirectorsNowRileyhadbeenfoistedontheBankbyanMP。，whowantedthesupportofRiley’sfather，who，again，wasanxioustogethissonouttoawarmerclimatebecauseofthoselungsTheMPhadaninterestintheBank；butoneoftheDirectorswantedtoadvanceanomineeofhisown；and，afterRiley’sfatherhaddied，hemadetherestoftheBoardseethatanAccountantwhowassickforhalftheyear，hadbettergiveplacetoahealthymanIfRileyhadknowntherealstoryofhisappointment，hemighthavebehavedbetter；butknowingnothing，hisstretchesofsicknessalternatedwithrestless，persistent，meddlingirritationofReggie，andallthehundredwaysinwhichconceitinasubordinatesituationcanfindplayReggieusedtocallhimstrikingandhair-curlingnamesbehindhisbackasarelieftohisownfeelings；butheneverabusedhimtohisface，becausehesaid：“Rileyissuchafrailbeastthathalfofhisloathsomeconceitisduetopainsinthechest。”
　　LateoneApril，RileywentverysickindeedThedoctorpunchedhimandthumpedhim，andtoldhimhewouldbebetterbeforelong。
　　ThenthedoctorwenttoReggieandsaid：——“DoyouknowhowsickyourAccountantis？”“No！”saidReggie——“Theworsethebetter，confoundhim！He’saclackingnuisancewhenhe’swellI’llletyoutakeawaytheBankSafeifyoucandrughimsilentforthishot-weather。”
　　Butthedoctordidnotlaugh——“Man，I’mnotjoking。”hesaid“I’llgivehimanotherthreemonthsinhisbedandaweekorsomoretodieinOnmyhonorandreputationthat’sallthegracehehasinthisworldConsumptionhasholdofhimtothemarrow。”
　　Reggie’sfacechangedatonceintothefaceof“MrReginaldBurke。”
　　andheanswered：——“WhatcanIdo？”
　　“Nothing。”saidthedoctor“ForallpracticalpurposesthemanisdeadalreadyKeephimquietandcheerfulandtellhimhe’sgoingtorecoverThat’sallI’lllookafterhimtotheend，ofcourse。”
　　Thedoctorwentaway，andReggiesatdowntoopentheeveningmail。
　　HisfirstletterwasonefromtheDirectors，intimatingforhisinformationthatMrRileywastoresign，underamonth’snotice，bythetermsofhisagreement，tellingReggiethattheirlettertoRileywouldfollowandadvisingReggieofthecomingofanewAccountant，amanwhomReggieknewandliked。
　　Reggielitacheroot，and，beforehehadfinishedsmoking，hehadsketchedtheoutlineofafraudHeputaway——“burked“——theDirectorsletter，andwentintotalktoRiley，whowasasungraciousasusual，andfrettinghimselfoverthewaythebankwouldrunduringhisillnessHeneverthoughtoftheextraworkonReggie’sshoulders，butsolelyofthedamagetohisownprospectsofadvancementThenReggieassuredhimthateverythingwouldbewell，andthathe，Reggie，wouldconferwithRileydailyonthemanagementoftheBankRileywasalittlesoothed，buthehintedinasmanywordsthathedidnotthinkmuchofReggie’sbusinesscapacity。
　　ReggiewashumbleAndhehadlettersinhisdeskfromtheDirectorsthataGilbarteoraHardiemighthavebeenproudof！
　　Thedayspassedinthebigdarkenedhouse，andtheDirectors’
　　letterofdismissaltoRileycameandwasputawaybyReggie，who，everyevening，broughtthebookstoRiley’sroom，andshowedhimwhathadbeengoingforward，whileRileysnarledReggiedidhisbesttomakestatementspleasingtoRiley，buttheAccountantwassurethattheBankwasgoingtorackandruinwithouthimInJune，asthelyinginbedtoldonhisspirit，heaskedwhetherhisabsencehadbeennotedbytheDirectors，andReggiesaidthattheyhadwrittenmostsympatheticletters，hopingthathewouldbeabletoresumehisvaluableservicesbeforelongHeshowedRileytheletters：andRileysaidthattheDirectorsoughttohavewrittentohimdirect。
　　Afewdayslater，ReggieopenedRiley’smailinthehalf-lightoftheroom，andgavehimthesheet——nottheenvelope——ofalettertoRileyfromtheDirectorsRileysaidhewouldthankReggienottointerferewithhisprivatepapers，speciallyasReggieknewhewastooweaktoopenhisownlettersReggieapologized。
　　ThenRiley’smoodchanged，andhelecturedReggieonhisevilways：
　　hishorsesandhisbadfriends“Ofcourse，lyinghereonmyback，MrBurke，Ican’tkeepyoustraight；butwhenI’mwell，IDOhopeyou’llpaysomeheedtomywords。”Reggie，whohaddroppedpolo，anddinners，andtennis，andalltoattendtoRiley，saidthathewaspenitentandsettledRiley’sheadonthepillowandheardhimfretandcontradictinhard，dry，hackingwhispers，withoutasignofimpatienceThisattheendofaheavyday’sofficework，doingdoubleduty，inthelatterhalfofJune。
　　WhenthenewAccountantcame，Reggietoldhimthefactsofthecase，andannouncedtoRileythathehadagueststayingwithhim。
　　Rileysaidthathemighthavehadmoreconsiderationthantoentertainhis“doubtfulfriends“atsuchatimeReggiemadeCarron，thenewAccountant，sleepattheClubinconsequenceCarron’sarrivaltooksomeoftheheavyworkoffhisshoulders，andhehadtimetoattendtoRiley’sexactions——toexplain，soothe，invent，andsettleandresettlethepoorwretchinbed，andtoforgecomplimentarylettersfromCalcuttaAttheendofthefirstmonth，RileywishedtosendsomemoneyhometohismotherReggiesentthedraftAttheendofthesecondmonth，Riley’ssalarycameinjustthesameReggiepaiditoutofhisownpocket；and，withit，wroteRileyabeautifulletterfromtheDirectors。
　　Rileywasveryillindeed，buttheflameofhislifeburntunsteadilyNowandthenhewouldbecheerfulandconfidentaboutthefuture，sketchingplansforgoingHomeandseeinghismother。
　　Reggielistenedpatientlywhentheofficeworkwasover，andencouragedhim。
　　AtothertimesRileyinsistedonReggie’sreadingtheBibleandgrim“Methody“tractstohimOutofthesetractshepointedmoralsdirectedathisManagerButhealwaysfoundtimetoworryReggieabouttheworkingoftheBank，andtoshowhimwheretheweakpointslay。
　　Thisin-door，sick-roomlifeandconstantstrainsworeReggiedownagooddeal，andshookhisnerves，andloweredhisbilliard-playbyfortypointsButthebusinessoftheBank，andthebusinessofthesick-room，hadtogoon，thoughtheglasswas116degreesintheshade。
　　Attheendofthethirdmonth，Rileywassinkingfast，andhadbeguntorealizethathewasverysickButtheconceitthatmadehimworryReggie，kepthimfrombelievingtheworst“Hewantssomesortofmentalstimulantifheistodragon。”saidthedoctor。
　　“Keephiminterestedinlifeifyoucareabouthisliving。”SoRiley，contrarytoallthelawsofbusinessandthefinance，receiveda25-per-cent，riseofsalaryfromtheDirectorsThe“mentalstimulant“succeededbeautifullyRileywashappyandcheerful，and，asisoftenthecaseinconsumption，healthiestinmindwhenthebodywasweakestHelingeredforafullmonth，snarlingandfrettingabouttheBank，talkingofthefuture，hearingtheBibleread，lecturingReggieonsin，andwonderingwhenhewouldbeabletomoveabroad。
　　ButattheendofSeptember，onemercilesslyhotevening，heroseupinhisbedwithalittlegasp，andsaidquicklytoReggie：——“Mr。
　　Burke，IamgoingtodieIknowitinmyselfMychestisallhollowinside，andthere’snothingtobreathewithTothebestofmyknowledgeIhavedonenowt“——hewasreturningtothetalkofhisboyhood——“tolieheavyonmyconscienceGodbethanked，Ihavebeenpreservedfromthegrosserformsofsin；andIcounselYOU，Mr。
　　Burke。”
　　Herehisvoicedieddown，andReggiestoopedoverhim。
　　“SendmysalaryforSeptembertomymotherdonegreatthingswiththeBankifIhadbeensparedmistakenpolicy。
　　nofaultofmine。”
　　Thenheturnedhisfacetothewallanddied。
　　ReggiedrewthesheetoverItsface，andwentoutintotheverandah，withhislast“mentalstimulant“——aletterofcondolenceandsympathyfromtheDirectors——unusedinhispocket。
　　“IfI’dbeenonlytenminutesearlier。”thoughtReggie，“Imighthaveheartenedhimuptopullthroughanotherday。”
　　TOD’SAMENDMENT。
　　TheWorldhathsetitsheavyyokeUpontheoldwhite-beardedfolkWhostrivetopleasetheKing。
　　God’smercyisupontheyoung，God’swisdominthebabytongueThatfearsnotanything。
　　TheParableofChajjuBhagat。
　　NowTods’Mammawasasingularlycharmingwoman，andeveryoneinSimlaknewTodsMostmenhadsavedhimfromdeathonoccasions。
　　Hewasbeyondhisayah’scontrolaltogether，andperilledhislifedailytofindoutwhatwouldhappenifyoupulledaMountainBatterymule’stailHewasanutterlyfearlessyoungPagan，aboutsixyearsold，andtheonlybabywhoeverbroketheholycalmofthesupremeLegislativeCouncil。
　　Ithappenedthisway：Tods’petkidgotloose，andfledupthehill，offtheBoileaugungeRoad，Todsafterit，untilitburstintotheViceregalLodgelawn，thenattachedto“Peterhoff。”TheCouncilweresittingatthetime，andthewindowswereopenbecauseitwaswarmTheRedLancerintheporchtoldTodstogoaway；butTodsknewtheRedLancerandmostoftheMembersofCouncilpersonally。
　　Moreover，hehadfirmholdofthekid’scollar，andwasbeingdraggedallacrosstheflower-beds“GivemysalaamtothelongCouncillorSahib，andaskhimtohelpmetakeMotiback！”gaspedTodsTheCouncilheardthenoisethroughtheopenwindows；
　　and，afteraninterval，wasseentheshockingspectacleofaLegalMemberandaLieutenant-Governorhelping，underthedirectpatronageofaCommander-in-ChiefandaViceroy，onesmallandverydirtyboyinasailor’ssuitandatangleofbrownhair，tocoercealivelyandrebelliouskidTheyheadeditoffdownthepathtotheMall，andTodswenthomeintriumphandtoldhisMammathatALLtheCouncillorSahibshadbeenhelpinghimtocatchMotiWhereathisMammasmackedTodsforinterferingwiththeadministrationoftheEmpire；
　　butTodsmettheLegalMemberthenextday，andtoldhiminconfidencethatiftheLegalMembereverwantedtocatchagoat，he，Tods，wouldgivehimallthehelpinhispower“Thankyou，Tods。”
　　saidtheLegalMember。
　　Todswastheidolofsomeeightyjhampanis，andhalfasmanysaises。
　　Hesalutedthemallas“OBrother。”Itneverenteredhisheadthatanylivinghumanbeingcoulddisobeyhisorders；andhewasthebufferbetweentheservantsandhisMamma’swrathTheworkingofthathouseholdturnedonTods，whowasadoredbyeveryonefromthedhobytothedog-boyEvenFuttehKhan，thevillainousloaferkhitfromMussoorie，shirkedriskingTods’displeasureforfearhisco-
　　matesshouldlookdownonhim。
　　SoTodshadhonorinthelandfromBoileaugungetoChotaSimla，andruledjustlyaccordingtohislightsOfcourse，hespokeUrdu，buthehadalsomasteredmanyqueerside-speecheslikethechoteeboleeofthewomen，andheldgraveconversewithshopkeepersandHill-
　　cooliesalikeHewasprecociousforhisage，andhismixingwithnativeshadtaughthimsomeofthemorebittertruthsoflife；themeannessandthesordidnessofitHeused，overhisbreadandmilk，todeliversolemnandseriousaphorisms，translatedfromthevernacularintotheEnglish，thatmadehisMammajumpandvowthatTodsMUSTgohomenexthotweather。