247
Aligarh not the least precious was the grandson
of its founder—Ross Masood. It was good to
have such blood infused into the veins of the
Hyderabad Service for its health. Birth, in-
herited qualities, family traditions, English asso-
ciations and social contact with people of conse-
quence in several places made Masood's fine
figure the more impressive, and his character the
better worth study.
Our first meeting was dramatic; and it was
at a social gathering. In the midst of a crowd,
I sawa tall well-built man whose head towered
above all, and whose large oval face, with its fair
palish complexion and thick black moustache
upturned at the ends, was a picture of gravity and
self-possession. As soon as my eyes rested on
him, "who is that man ?" was the question that
rose from the depths ; and it was instinctively
answered by some good friend who adroitly manag-
ed to draw us together. Is there not a free-
masonry between sincere hearts, which is the best
introducer ? It made us old friends at once!
Experience had taught me that the chief charac-
teristic of genuine friendship is that it knows no
such process as prolonged cultivation, and so
this new friendship was born full grown. Years
passed like months and the feeling remained in
my heart that Masood belonged to Hyderabad
for ever; for the fear of the parting, that was
" a coming event/1 never cast its shadow before.
Our friendship had entered upon its eternity and
did not admit of any misgiving.