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his position and influence by keeping on the
straight path with his unfailing courtesy,
He was always good company—full of gay
talk and sparkling anecdotes, ready gossip and
repartee, from the smallest talk to Byron's
Childe Harold. There was a perpetual play of
sunshine about him, and he gave it to all free of
cost.
As he had once been a contributor of articles
to the Pioneer, he could be looked upon as a pen-
man, and this too was an advantage. It was easy
for him with all his uncommon gifts and qualifi-
cations to please the Ministers and the officials,
and to make the entertainment of English people
by them the more cordial. By his fortnightly
' At Homes ' he brought Hyderabad and Secunder-
abad still closer together, and the officers of the
British garrison, meeting some of the higher
officials of Hyderabad on these occasions, found
the distance between the East and the West con-
siderably shortened. This, I think, was one of
Sir Faridoon's most valuable ' Liaison * services
to the State, and we realise it more fully now
that he is gone and has left no replica behind.
Though he was made Prime Minister 'de facto'
from time to time, and His Exalted Highness
graciously conferred on him the titles of 'Dowlah'
and'Mulk/ the natural man in him remained un-
changed while these favours were being showered
upon him by his gracious Master in rapid succes-
sion. He was like a delighted.. child whenever
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