BANGALORE-BOMBAY 119
I wish to buy some religious books in Kanarese, and I intend
going to the city for the purpose."
"All right, Earn," Ramdas agreed, "but return soon and
see that you do not stay away for the night."
He knew that Ramcharandas owned some money, of
which he had made Bhavanishankerrao's mother the
custodian. He -went to the city which lay about two miles
from Malleswaram. On his way back from the city, while
nearing Malleswaram, Ramcharandas came across two
sadhus on the main road. They told him that they had
nothing to eat from morning, and would feel obliged if he
could help them with a four-anna bit. Although the amount
that he had taken to the city was all spent, he had still
money in reserve with Bhavanishankerrao's mother. So he
promised the sadhus that he would meet their demand if
they followed him.
uln the first place," he suggested to the sadhus, "you
would do well to have the daishan of a mahatma residing
in this neighbourhood. I will get you his darshan, and then
shall look to it that you are paid the money promised,"
The sadhus agreeing he came direct to Ramdas with them
at his heels. He ran to him in advance announcing:
"Swamiji, I have brought fewo Sadhus for your darshan,*
and rubbed his hands with glee.
"Very good, Ram," Ramdas replied.
The sadhus entered the room. Ramdas requested t&em
to be seated on the blanket occupied by him* It appeared
from their respective ages that one was the guru and the
other his chela. The older one was a man of middle age,
dark, stout and well-built. He advanced and sat down
close to Eamdas on the rug while the younger man sat on
the floor at a respectable distance. Ramcharandas occupied
his own seat.
A closer scrutiny of the sadhu seated beside Ramdas
disclosed further particulars of him. He had a short and
thick black beard and a dense mass of well-combed hair on