"I was sorry to remark that he did not stand up when you entered the room."
"It was a very bad example for the boys; they could plainly see that their preceptor did not hold the chief magistrate of the town in much respect," I observed.
The Caimacan hesitated for a moment, and then remarked,—
"Oh! it was not on my own account that I spoke, but for the sake of the Effendi, who is an Englishman. It was an insult to him."
"Not in the least," I remarked. "How could it have been, when you were present? Why, you would have taken notice of it immediately."
"I did," said the Caimacan drily, "and the schoolmaster is in prison!"
"Is in prison? What for?"
"For contempt of his superiors."
"How long shall you keep him there?"
"That depends upon you, but he has been shut up about two hours already."