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‘So you see,’ said U Po Kyin with a pleased air, ‘you see how I have undermined him. He is like a
tree sawn through at the base. One tap and down he comes. In three weeks or less I shall deliver that
tap.’
‘How?’
‘I am just coming to that. I think it is time for you to hear about it. You have no sense in these
matters, but you know how to hold your tongue. You have heard talk of this rebellion that is brewing
near Thongwa village?’
‘Yes. They are very foolish, those villagers. What can they do with their dahs and spears against
the Indian soldiers? They will be shot down like wild animals.’
‘Of course. If there is any fighting it will be a massacre. But they are only a pack of superstitious
peasants. They have put their faith in these absurd bullet-proof jackets that are being distributed to
them. I despise such ignorance.’
‘Poor men! Why do you not stop them, Ko Po Kyin? There is no need to arrest anybody. You have
only to go to the village and tell them that you know their plans, and they will never dare to go on.’
‘Ah well, I could stop them if I chose, of course. But then I do not choose. I have my reasons. You
see, Kin Kin–you will please keep silent about this–this is, so to speak, my own rebellion. I arranged
it myself.’
‘What!’
Ma Kin dropped her cigar. Her eyes had opened so wide that the pale blue white showed all round
the pupil. She was horrified. She burst out——
‘Ko Po Kyin, what are you saying? You do not mean it! You, raising a rebellion–it cannot be true!’
‘Certainly it is true. And a very good job we are making of it. That magician whom I brought from
Rangoon is a clever fellow. He has toured all over India as a circus conjurer. The bullet-proof jackets
were bought at White-away & Laidlaw’s stores, one rupee eight annas each. They are costing me a
pretty penny, I can tell you.’
‘But, Ko Po Kyin! A rebellion! The terrible fighting and shooting, and all the poor men who will be
killed! Surely you have not gone mad? Are you not afraid of being shot yourself?’
U Po Kyin halted in his stride. He was astonished. ‘Good gracious, woman, what idea have you got
hold of now? You do not suppose that I am rebelling against the Government? I–a Government servant
of thirty years’ standing! Good heavens, no! I said that I had started the rebellion, not that I was taking
part in it. It is these fools of villagers who are going to risk their skins, not I. No one dreams that I
have anything to do with it, or ever will, except Ba Sein and one or two others.’
‘But you said it was you who were persuading them to rebel?’
‘Of course. I have accused Veraswami of raising a rebellion against the Government. Well, I must
have a rebellion to show, must I not?’
‘Ah, I see. And when the rebellion breaks out, you are going to say that Dr Veraswami is to blame
for it. Is that it?’
‘How slow you are! I should have thought even a fool would have seen that I am raising this
rebellion merely in order to crush it. I am–what is that expression Mr Macgregor uses? Agent
provocateur–Latin, you would not understand. I am agent provocateur. First I persuade these fools at