" If you did not say this, you were
considered one of mean understanding.
Now-a-days, the man who says that he knows the ravel of the inter-tribal
complications across the Border is of more use; but in Wressley's time, much
attention was paid to the Central Indian States. They were called "foci" and
"factors," and all manner of imposing names.
And here the curse of Anglo-Indian life fell heavily. When Wressley lifted up
his voice, and spoke about such-and-such a succession to such-and-such a
throne, the Foreign Office were silent, and Heads of Departments repeated the
last two or three words of Wressley's sentences, and tacked "yes, yes," on
them, and knew that they were "assisting the Empire to grapple with
seriouspolitical contingencies." In most big undertakings, one or two men do
the work while the rest sit near and talk till the ripe decorations begin to
fall.
Wressley was the working-member of the Foreign Office firm, and, to keep him up
to his duties when he showed signs of flagging, he was made much of by his
superiors and told what a fine fellow he was.
He did not require coaxing, because he was of tough build, but what he received
confirmed him in the belief that there was no one quite so absolutely and
imperatively necessary to the stability of India as Wressley of the Foreign
Office.
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