human
We shall have to be moving soon, he remarked casually.
gpt
The news has reached the city, and the mourners are coming out. The funeral will take place in the morning.
human
But you have forgotten--the murder!
gpt
I have forgotten nothing, but things are settled in the approved diplomatic style, by concessions on both sides. There is just about time to tell you--but of course you understand that you are the moving spirit throughout; I am merely your mouthpiece. Sher Singh consents that there shall be no suttee, and you agree not to interfere with the funeral--in other words, to make no inquiry into the cause of the Rajah's death.
human
In other words, to condone an atrocious crime.
gpt
My dear Hal, what did you propose doing? If you were thinking of laying violent hands on the corpse--but that would be absurd. The Brahmins would tear us to pieces with their bare hands. You know we should defile it and bring indelible disgrace on Kharrak Singh if we even approached too near. A post-mortem? Who do you suggest should perform it? Moraes is about the figure for the job, ain't he? Show a little common-sense.
human
If the thing is so impossible, why should Sher Singh make an important concession to avoid it?
gpt
Because it would raise nasty rumours if we made the attempt, and getting rid of us would prejudice him with Antony. Remember, you have no evidence. If Partab Singh was murdered, who is going to prove that Sher Singh did it? You secure an important advantage at the cost of giving up the right to make a gigantic fool of yourself.
human
But who is to see that Sher Singh keeps his word and does not arrange a suttee?
gpt
You and I, of course. We attend the funeral, naturally, with all our sowars, to show due honour to the deceased. By the bye, that reminds me, we should be rather an easy prey after firing the volleys. The front rank had better load with ball, and reserve their fire, and only the rear rank fire with blank. In the smoke and noise it won't be noticed that only half the men have fired, and we shan't be defenceless if Sher Singh takes it into his head to let the army loose on us.
human
But you seem to be allowing Sher Singh to take the lead in all the funeral arrangements, which is exactly the matter in dispute.
gpt
To be sure. There comes in the second concession. We, with the bodyguard and our own men, are to occupy the palace enclosure to-night, and watch over the safety of the corpse and the women, in return for allowing Sher Singh to walk next to young Kharrak Singh in the procession, and guide his hand when he fires the pile. Why that lowering brow? The possession of the palace is all-important to you, ain't it?
human
Yes, and even more now than when you left me. But to concede Sher Singh's claim----
gpt
My good Hal, the man is next heir. If anything happens to the youngster, he must be Rajah, there's no one else. You may be thankful he don't claim to mount the _gaddi_ at once. But since he is content to stand aside, and has contrived to gull Antony into taking his part----
human
That's merely temporary, Bob, believe me. When the Colonel learns the scoundrel's real character, he will withdraw his support in disgust.
gpt
I'm none so sure of that. Remember his fatal predilection for black sheep. What about his handing over Bala to Tika Singh, after he himself had exhausted all the resources of the English language in finding suitably opprobrious epithets for him? The Bala people hated him, too, whereas I gather that the Agpuris have no particular dislike for Sher Singh.
human
Nor to any one that will bribe them, said Gerrard bitterly.
gpt
You think Antony will make him Regent, then I.
human
It would be in accordance with the usual custom, wouldn't it? I suppose the next heir wishes to look after his prospective dominions, but I'll own it always seems to me uncommon hard on the reigning child. However, for the present, Sher Singh acknowledges the Rani as sole Regent, and consents to refer the difference between you and himself to Antony and the Ranjitgarh Durbar. How could poor old Partab Singh ever have thought of making you Regent? If Antony don't treat you to a pretty wigging on the score of it, I'll eat my hat.
gpt
It was a kind of fixed idea of his, though I told him over and over again it was impossible.
human
Well, if it had been me, hanged if I wouldn't have taken the job, as the wigging is bound to come anyhow. A man might do a good deal while the runners were going to Ranjitgarh and back. But as Antony will probably punish your misdeeds by sentencing you to stay on here and keep the peace between the rival Regents, it's just as well you didn't make yourself impossible by accepting. Can't say I envy you the billet.
gpt
I am almost inclined to ask you to shoot me through the head and put me out of my misery,
human
Oh, cheer up! We may all be shot down in a heap to-morrow, you know, in spite of my powers of persuasion. But I don't fancy you will, somehow. Sher Singh asked me very mysteriously whether you knew the secret of the entrance to his father's private treasury. Not knowing I couldn't say, but I can be mysterious too, and I told him there were some things that couldn't be spoken about. He seemed to take that as an affirmative, and I think he felt that to shut you up there to feed on gold was about the only thing that would fit the case. But, by the way, how is it that he leaves the palace to you to-night, if he believes you know the secret?
gpt
He don't know it himself. I am the only living creature that does, now, and you are the only living creature that I may reveal it to.
human
An honour likely to be associated with sudden and painful death--eh? But I'm game. And as your principal duty in connection with the treasury will probably be to pay out of it Sher Singh's allowance as fixed by the Ranjitgarh Durbar, I don't fancy you'll enjoy a bed of roses.