AllIndiaknewWressley’snameandoffice——itwasinThackerandSpink’sDirectory——butwhohewaspersonally，orwhathedid，orwhathisspecialmeritswere，notfiftymenkneworcaredHisworkfilledallhistime，andhefoundnoleisuretocultivateacquaintancesbeyondthoseofdeadRajputchiefswithAhirblotsintheir’scutcheonsWressleywouldhavemadeaverygoodClerkintheHerald’sCollegehadhenotbeenaBengalCivilian。
Uponaday，betweenofficeandoffice，greattroublecametoWressley——overwhelmedhim，knockedhimdown，andlefthimgaspingasthoughhehadbeenalittleschool-boyWithoutreason，againstprudence，andatamoment’snotice，hefellinlovewithafrivolous，golden-hairedgirlwhousedtotearaboutSimlaMallonahigh，roughwaler，withabluevelvetjockey-capcrammedoverhereyesHernamewasVenner——TillieVenner——andshewasdelightful。
ShetookWressley’sheartatahand-gallop，andWressleyfoundthatitwasnotgoodformantolivealone；evenwithhalftheForeignOfficeRecordsinhispresses。
ThenSimlalaughed，forWressleyinlovewasslightlyridiculous。
Hedidhisbesttointerestthegirlinhimself——thatistosay，hiswork——andshe，afterthemannerofwomen，didherbesttoappearinterestedinwhat，behindhisback，shecalled“MrWressley’sWajahs“；forshelispedveryprettilyShedidnotunderstandonelittlethingaboutthem，butsheactedasifshedidMenhavemarriedonthatsortoferrorbeforenow。