But he must not bring any disgrace on his children by some silly escapade.
Imagine if it got about that he was not respectable! His professional
position too must be considered, whatever Major Callendar thought. Aziz
upheld the proprieties, though he did not invest them with any moral halo,
and it was here that he chiefly differed from an Englishman. His conventions
were social. There is no harm in deceiving society as long as she does
not find you out, because it is only when she finds you out that you have
harmed her; she is not like a friend or God, who are injured by the mere existence
of unfaithfulness. Quite clear about this, he meditated what type of
lie he should tell to get away to Calcutta, and had thought of a man there
who could be trusted to send him a wire and a letter that he could show to
Major Callendar, when the noise of wheels was heard in his compound.
Someone had called to enquire. The thought of sympathy increased his
fever, and with a sincere groan he wrapped himself in his quilt.
“Aziz, my dear fellow, we are greatly concerned,” said Hamidullah’s
voice. One, two, three, four bumps, as people sat down upon his bed.
“When a doctor falls ill it is a serious matter,” said the voice of Mr. Syed
Mohammed, the assistant engineer.
“When an engineer falls ill, it is equally