Gopi. Sadhu, now away with your high flown language; it does not sound well on the tongue of a peasant; it is like a sweeper’s broom touching the body.
Wood. Now the rascal is become very wise.
Amin. That fool explains the laws and magistrate’s orders to the common people, and thus raises confusion. His brother draws the ploughshare, and he uses the high word pratápsháli “glorious.”
Gopi. The child of the preparer of cow-dung balls is become a Court Naeb (deputy). My Lord, the establishment of schools in villages has increased the violence of the ryots.
Wood. I shall write to our Indigo Planters’ Association to make a petition to the Government for stopping the schools in villages; we shall fight to secure stopping the schools.
Amin. That fool wants to bring the case into Court.
Wood. (To Sadhu) You are very wicked. You have twenty bigahs, of which, if you employ nine bigahs for Indigo, why can’t you cultivate the other nine bigahs for rice.
Gopi. My Lord, the debt which is credited to him can be made use of for bringing the whole twenty bigahs within our own power.
Sadhu. (To himself) O oh! the witness for the spirit-seller is the drunkard? (Openly) If the nine bigahs which are marked off for the cultivation of the Indigo were worked by the plough and kine of the Factory, then can I use the other nine bigahs for rice. The work which is to be done in the rice-field is only a fourth of that which is necessary in the Indigo-field, consequently if I am to remain engaged in these nine bigahs, the remaining eleven bigahs will be without cultivation.
Wood. You, dolt, are very wicked, you scoundrel (háramjádá); you must take the money in advance; you must cultivate the land; you are a very scoundrel (kicks him). You shall leave off every thing when you meet with Shamchand (takes Shamchand from the wall.)