'What next befell me then and there
I know not well--I never knew:'
but when I came to myself, to quote from same sublime poem--
'I had not strength to stir, nor strive,
But felt that I was still alive,'
for, below, leeches suck my vital fluid; above, black men have me in grip as firm as metropolitan bobby. They propel me, sir, with indignity to reverse of the medal, to this identical spot.
'First came the loss of light, and air,
And then of darkness too:'
in other words, I, Said Mohammed, failed B.A. of Calcutta University, am consigned to ignominious horizontal extension on floor of beastly hovel. I suffer in silence,
'Nor call the gods with vulgar spite
To vindicate my hapless right.'
--Allow me to offer you another fritter, sir."
"Thanks. What next? Fire away!"
"After horrid night, sir, over which I draw veil of decency, I am transported into light of day. Hail, smiling morn! I purchase freedom by generous offer to teach fair sex a thing or two. Casting pearls before swine, sir; pains thrown away. But I earn my salt, and the rest is blank page, clean slate, until I hear the tramp of armed men, and behold, the grand finale!"