by C. A. Frazer
CHAPTER V.
"Your lofty faith and devotion, my son, move me deeply. The heroicspirit of my brother Raee seems once more to incite me to deeds ofdaring which in these degenerate days would alas be vain."
So spoke Lehna Singh in the midst of luxury and splendour that had beenamassed in no hazardous career of adventure or enterprise, but bymethods of coldest calculation and avarice. His listeners were hisnephew, whom he addressed, and the Rajah Lal Singh, chief favourite ofthe notorious Ranee, a man of cringing and servile demeanour,notwithstanding his rank, whose crafty smile followed the speaker'swords as he scrutinized the countenance of Atma, as if to learn theireffect. The apartment in which they sat was an inner chamber, small,secluded, and silent, for the fame of Lal, lately Wuzeer to the littleMaharajah, but for grave offences disgraced and removed from Lahore, wassuch as to demand caution on the part of those who would consort withhim.
"Before I can explain to you," proceeded Lehna, "the last words of mydeparted brother, I have a tale to unfold, a tale which will reveal toyou in how high a degree your coming has been opportune. In thesetroubled days a loyal, brave, and trusty friend of the Khalsa is far toseek, and it is in quest of such a one that my honoured guest Rajah LalSingh has, in the face of much peril, come to me from the Maharanee, nowat Feragpore, whither she was sent by Purwunnah, under seal of herinfant son, the Maharajah, thus made in tender years the instrument ofhis mother's disgrace. But on the cruel affronts of our enemies I neednot dwell. These things are known to all. The plans which I am about toreveal to you, Atma Singh relate to the future, and speak not ofdisgrace, but of hope; know that in the treasures of Runjeet Singh therewas one jewel--a sapphire--of magical property. To its holder it ensuredsuccess in war. This jewel, the late Maharajah received from my hands.It was a family heirloom, and descended to your father, the eldest sonof our house, through countless generations. Being, when we were bothyoung, in sore straits, and hard pressed for money, he parted with thistalisman to me, on condition that after his death I should return it tohis eldest surviving son. You may guess the poignancy of the grief withwhich I tell you then that this heirloom is no longer mine. Many yearsago I gave it into the hands of Runjeet Singh for a time, in the beliefthat its potency would aid our national fortunes" (what equivalent Lehnareceived, he doubtless deemed it irrelevant to state). "The brilliancyof his career attests its worth. It should have been long ago restoredto me, but my efforts to regain it were repeatedly baffled, until I wasfain to content myself with the reflection that at least it served thecause, and to trust in the future for its recovery. Believing it to bein the treasury at Lahore, and firmly believing in its potency, those ofus who knew of its existence never abandoned hope until itsdisappearance was, alas! ascertained beyond a doubt. To such, eachdefeat of the Khalsa caused amazement deeper than consternation. Theoverthrow of the Sikh power seemed a thing incredible until the recentconfiscation and plunder of the treasuries, when it became certain toother vigilant onlookers as well as to myself that the Sapphire of Fatewas not in the possession of the true rulers of the Punjaub at the timeof their downfall. Contrast the victorious progress of the Lion of thePunjaub with the fallen fortunes of his family, when robbed of what wenow believe to be the talisman of his fortunes. Not only does the Raneebelieve that the recovery of this gem will ensure the prosperity of thedescendants of Runjeet Singh, but I do firmly believe that itsre-possession will rally the Sikh forces to form again a conqueringfaith. Son of Raee, have you the courage to serve the Ranee, to regainthis, your inheritance, and in obedience to your father's dying words,to devote it and your own life to a fallen house, whose foes are thefoes of the Khalsa?"
Atma remained silent during some minutes, plunged in thought, andunconscious of the anxious scrutiny of his companions, who, bendingforward, awaited his reply in breathless suspense. It was a shock toknow that the heritage which was certainly his had passed from theguardianship of the kinsman to whom it had been entrusted, andindignation mingled with gentler reflections. He had not known the storyof the Sapphire, and his thoughts reverted to his father, the meaning ofwhose reticence on a subject, which must have been full of humiliationand pain, his son sadly divined, and recalling his dying words,indelibly printed on his memory, he felt his high commission to be againrenewed and vivified. Perhaps the gentle image of Moti, ever present tofond imagination, dispelled the rising clouds of distrust andresentment, and bade him meet her father's demand with response of likespirit. So now recalling the ingenuous emotion which had glowed in hisface during Lehna's tragic account of the recent career of Junda Kowr,he asked where the Sapphire of Fate was to be found.
"At the Court of Golab Singh," replied his uncle, dramatically. "GolabSingh, once a horseman in the employ of Runjeet Singh, now by Britishmachinations usurper of the crown of Kashmir. If you, Atma, are a trueand faithful adherent of the Khalsa, you will thither repair as an envoyof the Maharanee, and will count her reward lightly won by dangerencountered for the faith."
"Inform her highness of my instant readiness to perform her request,"replied Atma.
Happiness overspread the countenance of Lehna. With a gentle sigh ofrelief, he abandoned the heroic and magnanimous strain in which hisspeech had flown, and which to so acute and wary a man of affairs wasperhaps unfamiliar. He exchanged a glance of satisfaction with theRajah, who leaned back among his silken cushions in an attitude ofgreater comfort than he had allowed to himself during the precedinganxious half-hour.
It only remained to instruct the young Sikh as to the course and mannerof his journey, which was to be first to Ferazpore to receive thecommands of Junda Kowr, thence to Jummoo, where Golab Singh, therecently appointed ruler of Kashmir, held his brilliant court.
These matters satisfactorily arranged, Rajah Lal with stately ceremonytook his leave, and Atma found himself alone with his kinsman, whoproceeded to matters of not less interest.
"I am honoured," he said, "by your proposed alliance with my house," forAtma had disclosed to her father his love for Moti. "I am honoured anddeeply moved; but I defer this consummation of my cherished wish untilall may know that among many suitors, I chose, to be the husband of myonly child, a leal soldier of the Khalsa. But your high nature will, Iperceive, count this prize lightly won by peril endured for the Khalsa.You go to-morrow to Ferazpore, where you will meet again Rajah Lal, whohas perhaps more influence with our clever Ranee than many a better man.He repairs thither this evening, and will no doubt prepare for you afavourable reception, and you will," he added, laughing, "in allprobability be received with the overflowing kindness and unveiledconfidence which our British friends deprecate!"
This covert allusion was not understood by the young Sikh, in whosethoughts all men were valiant and all women fair and good. But heexperienced a shade of annoyance on learning that he must owe anythingto the good offices of Lal Singh. An echo seemed to sound faint and faras in a dream; "Rajah Lal," it seemed to say, "means to pluck the Roseof Lehna Singh's garden."