How does Hemadpant use his own past to illustrate a spiritual principle in Chapter 21?

In Chapter 21, Hemadpant uses his own past experience to powerfully illustrate the principle that meeting a Saint requires good fortune and divine grace. He confesses that while he was a Magistrate in Bandra, he had the opportunity to meet a famous Siddha, Pir Maulana, but chose not to. He reflects, "One fears one's own shadow when ill-luck stands in the way." As detailed in this chapter, he candidly admits his pride and "ill-luck" were the reasons he missed this chance, even though the Saint's servant persistently invited him. By narrating his own failure, Hemadpant humbly proves the point that even when a Saint is physically near, a sinful or unfortunate person cannot see them, and only later did he form an "unbreakable bond" with Shirdi when the time was right.