“Downthere，walkingontheroadtothevillageShewasinabluedress，andsheliftedtheveilofherbonnetandsaid：——’RamDass，givemysalaamstotheSahib，andtellhimthatIshallmeethimnextmonthatNuddea。’ThenIranaway，becauseIwasafraid。”
　　WhatDumoisesaidordidIdonotknowRamDassdeclaresthathesaidnothing，butwalkedupanddowntheverandahallthecoldnight，waitingfortheMemsahibtocomeupthehillandstretchingouthisarmsintothedarklikeamadmanButnoMemsahibcame，and，nextday，hewentontoSimlacross-questioningthebearereveryhour。
　　RamDasscouldonlysaythathehadmetMrsDumoiseandthatshehadliftedupherveilandgivenhimthemessagewhichhehadfaithfullyrepeatedtoDumoiseTothisstatementRamDassadhered。
　　HedidnotknowwhereNuddeawas，hadnofriendsatNuddea，andwouldmostcertainlynevergotoNuddea；eventhoughhispayweredoubled。
　　NuddeaisinBengal，andhasnothingwhatevertodowithadoctorservinginthePunjabItmustbemorethantwelvehundredmilesfromMeridki。
　　DumoisewentthroughSimlawithouthalting，andreturnedtoMeridkitheretotakeoverchargefromthemanwhohadbeenofficiatingforhimduringhistourThereweresomeDispensaryaccountstobeexplained，andsomerecentordersoftheSurgeon-Generaltobenoted，and，altogether，thetaking-overwasafullday’sworkIntheevening，Dumoisetoldhislocumtenens，whowasanoldfriendofhisbachelordays，whathadhappenedatBagi；andthemansaidthatRamDassmightaswellhavechosenTuticorinwhilehewasaboutit。
　　Atthatmomentatelegraph-peoncameinwithatelegramfromSimla，orderingDumoisenottotakeoverchargeatMeridki，buttogoatoncetoNuddeaonspecialdutyTherewasanastyoutbreakofcholeraatNuddea，andtheBengalGovernment，beingshorthanded，asusual，hadborrowedaSurgeonfromthePunjab。
　　Dumoisethrewthetelegramacrossthetableandsaid：——“Well？”
　　TheotherDoctorsaidnothingItwasallthathecouldsay。
　　ThenherememberedthatDumoisehadpassedthroughSimlaonhiswayfromBagi；andthusmight，possibly，haveheardthefirstnewsoftheimpendingtransfer。
　　Hetriedtoputthequestion，andtheimpliedsuspicionintowords，butDumoisestoppedhimwith：——“IfIhaddesiredTHAT，IshouldneverhavecomebackfromChiniIwasshootingthereIwishtolive，forIhavethingstodobutIshallnotbesorry。”
　　Theothermanbowedhishead，andhelped，inthetwilight，topackupDumoise’sjustopenedtrunksRamDassenteredwiththelamps。
　　“WhereistheSahibgoing？”heasked。
　　“ToNuddea。”saidDumoise，softly。
　　RamDassclawedDumoise’skneesandbootsandbeggedhimnottogo。
　　RamDassweptandhowledtillhewasturnedoutoftheroom。
　　ThenhewrappedupallhisbelongingsandcamebacktoaskforacharacterHewasnotgoingtoNuddeatoseehisSahibdie，and，perhapstodiehimself。
　　SoDumoisegavethemanhiswagesandwentdowntoNuddeaalone；theotherDoctorbiddinghimgood-byeasoneundersentenceofdeath。
　　Elevendayslater，hehadjoinedhisMemsahib；andtheBengalGovernmenthadtoborrowafreshDoctortocopewiththatepidemicatNuddeaThefirstimportationlaydeadinChooadangaDak-
　　Bungalow。
　　TOBEHELDFORREFERENCE。
　　BythehoofoftheWildGoatup-tossedFromtheCliffwhereShelayintheSun，FelltheStoneTotheTarnwherethedaylightislost；
　　SoShefellfromthelightoftheSun，Andalone。
　　Nowthefallwasordainedfromthefirst，WiththeGoatandtheCliffandtheTarn，ButtheStoneKnowsonlyHerlifeisaccursed，AsShesinksinthedepthsoftheTarn，Andalone。
　　Oh，ThouwhohasbuildedtheworldOh，ThouwhohastlightedtheSun！
　　Oh，ThouwhohastdarkenedtheTarn！
　　JudgeThouTheSinoftheStonethatwashurledBytheGoatfromthelightoftheSun，AsShesinksinthemireoftheTarn，Evennow——evennow——evennow！
　　FromtheUnpublishedPapersofMcIntoshJellaludin。
　　“Say，isitdawn，isitduskinthyBower，ThouwhomIlongfor，wholongestforme？
　　Ohbeitnight——beit——“
　　Herehefelloveralittlecamel-coltthatwassleepingintheSeraiwherethehorse-tradersandthebestoftheblackguardsfromCentralAsialive；and，becausehewasverydrunkindeedandthenightwasdark，hecouldnotriseagaintillIhelpedhimThatwasthebeginningofmyacquaintancewithMcIntoshJellaludinWhenaloafer，anddrunk，singsTheSongoftheBower，hemustbeworthcultivatingHegotoffthecamel’sbackandsaid，ratherthickly：——
　　“I——I——I’mabitscrewed，butadipinLoggerheadwillputmerightagain；andIsay，haveyouspokentoSymondsaboutthemare’sknees？”
　　NowLoggerheadwassixthousandwearymilesawayfromus，closetoMesopotamia，whereyoumustn’tfishandpoachingisimpossible，andCharleySymonds’stableahalfmilefurtheracrossthepaddocks。
　　Itwasstrangetohearalltheoldnames，onaMaynight，amongthehorsesandcamelsoftheSultanCaravanseraiThenthemanseemedtorememberhimselfandsoberdownatthesametimeHeleanedagainstthecamelandpointedtoacorneroftheSeraiwherealampwasburning：——
　　“Ilivethere。”saidhe，“andIshouldbeextremelyobligedifyouwouldbegoodenoughtohelpmymutinousfeetthither；forIammorethanusuallydrunk——most——mostphenomenallytightButnotinrespecttomyhead’Mybraincriesoutagainst’——howdoesitgo？
　　Butmyheadridesonthe——rollsonthedung-hillIshouldhavesaid，andcontrolsthequalm。”
　　Ihelpedhimthroughthegangsoftetheredhorsesandhecollapsedontheedgeoftheverandahinfrontofthelineofnativequarters。
　　“Thanks——athousandthanks！OMoonandlittle，littleStars！TothinkthatamanshouldsoshamelesslyInfamousliquor，tooOvidinexiledranknoworseBetterItwasfrozenAlas！
　　IhadnoiceGood-nightIwouldintroduceyoutomywifewereI
　　sober——orshecivilized。”
　　Anativewomancameoutofthedarknessoftheroom，andbegancallingthemannames；soIwentawayHewasthemostinterestingloaferthatIhadthepleasureofknowingforalongtime；andlateron，hebecameafriendofmineHewasatall，well-built，fairmanfearfullyshakenwithdrink，andhelookednearerfiftythanthethirty-fivewhich，hesaid，washisrealageWhenamanbeginstosinkinIndia，andisnotsentHomebyhisfriendsassoonasmaybe，hefallsverylowfromarespectablepointofviewBythetimethathechangeshiscreed，asdidMcIntosh，heispastredemption。
　　Inmostbigcities，nativeswilltellyouoftwoorthreeSahibs，generallylow-caste，whohaveturnedHinduorMussulman，andwholivemoreorlessassuchButitisnotoftenthatyoucangettoknowthemAsMcIntoshhimselfusedtosay：——“IfIchangemyreligionformystomach’ssake，Idonotseektobecomeamartyrtomissionaries，noramIanxiousfornotoriety。”
　　AttheoutsetofacquaintanceMcIntoshwarnedme“Rememberthis。
　　IamnotanobjectforcharityIrequireneitheryourmoney，yourfood，noryourcast-offraimentIamthatrareanimal，aself-
　　supportingdrunkardIfyouchoose，Iwillsmokewithyou，forthetobaccoofthebazarsdoesnot，Iadmit，suitmypalate；andIwillborrowanybookswhichyoumaynotspeciallyvalueItismorethanlikelythatIshallsellthemforbottlesofexcessivelyfilthycountry-liquorsInreturn，youshallsharesuchhospitalityasmyhouseaffordsHereisacharpoyonwhichtwocansit，anditispossiblethattheremay，fromtimetotime，befoodinthatplatter。
　　Drink，unfortunately，youwillfindonthepremisesatanyhour：
　　andthusImakeyouwelcometoallmypoorestablishments。”
　　IwasadmittedtotheMcIntoshhousehold——Iandmygoodtobacco。
　　ButnothingelseUnluckily，onecannotvisitaloaferintheSeraibydayFriendsbuyinghorseswouldnotunderstandit。
　　Consequently，IwasobligedtoseeMcIntoshafterdarkHelaughedatthis，andsaidsimply：——“YouareperfectlyrightWhenIenjoyedapositioninsociety，ratherhigherthanyours，Ishouldhavedoneexactlythesamething，GoodHeavens！Iwasonce“——hespokeasthoughhehadfallenfromtheCommandofaRegiment——“anOxfordMan！”ThisaccountedforthereferencetoCharleySymonds’
　　stable。
　　“You。”saidMcIntosh，slowly，“havenothadthatadvantage；but，tooutwardappearance，youdonotseempossessedofacravingforstrongdrinksOnthewhole，IfancythatyouaretheluckierofthetwoYetIamnotcertainYouare——forgivemysayingsoevenwhileIamsmokingyourexcellenttobacco——painfullyignorantofmanythings。”
　　Weweresittingtogetherontheedgeofhisbedstead，forheownednochairs，watchingthehorsesbeingwateredforthenight，whilethenativewomanwaspreparingdinnerIdidnotlikebeingpatronizedbyaloafer，butIwashisguestforthetimebeing，thoughheownedonlyoneverytornalpaca-coatandapairoftrousersmadeoutofgunny-bagsHetookthepipeoutofhismouth，andwentonjudicially：——“Allthingsconsidered，IdoubtwhetheryouaretheluckierIdonotrefertoyourextremelylimitedclassicalattainments，oryourexcruciatingquantities，buttoyourgrossignoranceofmattersmoreimmediatelyunderyournoticeThatforinstance。”——HepointedtoawomancleaningasamovarnearthewellinthecentreoftheSeraiShewasflickingthewateroutofthespoutinregularcadencedjerks。
　　“TherearewaysandwaysofcleaningsamovarsIfyouknewwhyshewasdoingherworkinthatparticularfashion，youwouldknowwhattheSpanishMonkmeantwhenhesaid——
　　’ItheTrinityillustrate，Drinkingwateredorange-pulp——
　　InthreesipstheAryanfrustrate，Whilehedrainshisatonegulp——’
　　andmanyotherthingswhichnowarehiddenfromyoureyes。
　　However，MrsMcIntoshhasprepareddinnerLetuscomeandeatafterthefashionofthepeopleofthecountry——ofwhom，bytheway，youknownothing。”
　　ThenativewomandippedherhandinthedishwithusThiswaswrongThewifeshouldalwayswaituntilthehusbandhaseaten。
　　McIntoshJellaludinapologized，saying：——
　　“ItisanEnglishprejudicewhichIhavenotbeenabletoovercome；
　　andshelovesmeWhy，IhaveneverbeenabletounderstandI
　　fore-gatheredwithheratJullundur，threeyearsago，andshehasremainedwithmeeversinceIbelievehertobemoral，andknowhertobeskilledincookery。”
　　Hepattedthewoman’sheadashespoke，andshecooedsoftly。
　　Shewasnotprettytolookat。
　　McIntoshnevertoldmewhatpositionhehadheldbeforehisfall。
　　Hewas，whensober，ascholarandagentlemanWhendrunk，hewasrathermoreofthefirstthanthesecondHeusedtogetdrunkaboutonceaweekfortwodaysOnthoseoccasionsthenativewomantendedhimwhileheravedinalltonguesexcepthisownOneday，indeed，hebeganrecitingAtalantainCalydon，andwentthroughittotheend，beatingtimetotheswingoftheversewithabedstead-
　　legButhedidmostofhisravingsinGreekorGermanTheman’smindwasaperfectrag-bagofuselessthingsOnce，whenhewasbeginningtogetsober，hetoldmethatIwastheonlyrationalbeingintheInfernointowhichhehaddescended——aVirgilintheShades，hesaid——andthat，inreturnformytobacco，hewould，beforehedied，givemethematerialsofanewInfernothatshouldmakemegreaterthanDanteThenhefellasleeponahorse-blanketandwokeupquitecalm。
　　“Man。”saidhe，“whenyouhavereachedtheuttermostdepthsofdegradation，littleincidentswhichwouldvexahigherlife，aretoyouofnoconsequenceLastnight，mysoulwasamongthegods；
　　butImakenodoubtthatmybestialbodywaswrithingdownhereinthegarbage。”
　　“Youwereabominablydrunkifthat’swhatyoumean。”Isaid。
　　“IWASdrunk——filthydrunkIwhoamthesonofamanwithwhomyouhavenoconcern——IwhowasonceFellowofaCollegewhosebuttery-
　　hatchyouhavenotseenIwasloathsomelydrunkButconsiderhowlightlyIamtouchedItisnothingtomeLessthannothing；forIdonotevenfeeltheheadachewhichshouldbemyportionNow，inahigherlife，howghastlywouldhavebeenmypunishment，howbittermyrepentance！Believeme，myfriendwiththeneglectededucation，thehighestisasthelowest——alwayssupposingeachdegreeextreme。”
　　Heturnedroundontheblanket，puthisheadbetweenhisfistsandcontinued：——
　　“OntheSoulwhichIhavelostandontheConsciencewhichIhavekilled，ItellyouthatICANNOTfeel！Iamasthegods，knowinggoodandevil，butuntouchedbyeitherIsthisenviableorisitnot？”
　　Whenamanhaslostthewarningof“nextmorning’shead。”hemustbeinabadstate，Ianswered，lookingatMcIntoshontheblanket，withhishairoverhiseyesandhislipsblue-white，thatIdidnotthinktheinsensibilitygoodenough。