Chapter V
_AHMAD RETURNS TO COURT_
The rains had burst over India with terrific force. Even the arid andever drought threatened State of Jhansi received a deluge. This soonrendered the main lines of communication impassable, and cut Jhansi offfrom the outside world.
Rumors only of stirring events reached the Rani's ears. In thatmysterious way, by which news in India seems to filter throughinanimate channels, she heard of the Foreigner's advance upon Delhi;but of the course which they intended to pursue toward her own State,she could obtain no reliable information. It appeared as if theirdesperate need to strike a blow at the center of the revolt would leaveher unmolested for the present.
This was satisfactory as it gave her time to prepare for their return.But her position was still precarious from danger near at hand.
In the city of Jhansi her authority was now unquestioned, even thoughthe rivalries among her retainers made it a delicate matter to enforce.But in the remaining parts of the State, the nobles, uninfluenced byher personality, were not so ready to submit to what they were inclinedto regard as the capricious rule of a girl. From similar instancesthey feared the advent to power of some court favorite. More than one,also, had claims of his own to urge forward to the prize that hadfallen into the Rani's grasp. With native caution they had waited forthe result of the _coup d'etat_ before irrevocably declaring their ownhands.
Thus, with the exception of a few minor nobles, the Rani's proclamationof her accession had been received by the Jhansi rajas throughout theState in ominous silence. A disquieting report persistently reassertedthat the Maharaja Sadescheo, a cousin of the late Raja of Jhansi wascollecting troops near his fortress of Shahpur, for the purpose ofjoining forces with the Peshwa. This did not deceive the Rani's alertintelligence. A descent upon the city of Jhansi was, in her reckoning,the Maharaja's more probable aim.
Under these circumstances she had prudently secured the gates andramparts of Jhansi with her own soldiers, leaving the fort andcantonments without the city in the possession of Ahmad Khan, whosesullen attitude she viewed with anxiety. While the Mohammedan nobleseemed to possess every evil trait to which mortal flesh is heir, shefully appreciated the control of his ferocious bravery, as an aweinspiring weapon to hold over the heads of those who yet disputed hertitle.
His plea of sickness, as an excuse for his absence from her court,if a ruse to screen other motives, was not confirmed by any sign ofaction. She was led to hope, that by the use of subtle influence, hisallegiance might be retained without making too great a sacrifice tohis ambition.
How to accomplish this was the question of the hour.
The Rani was seated in one of her private apartments discussing thenews of the morning with Prasad, when Bipin entered. He paused withinthe door, and glanced suspiciously at the Hindu noble.
"Well, learned Secretary," greeted Prasad affably, "Thy face seemsto reflect the scowl of the elements. Doth the weight of thy exaltedoffice press too heavily upon thy turban"?
"Thanks to the Rani's graciousness," returned Bipin, "my turbanrests lightly enough; and its folds well protect my ears," he addedsignificantly.
"He shall not imagine," thought Bipin, "that I am not forewarned of hisaccursed design."
Prasad laughed good naturedly as he regarded the unusual size of thesecretary's head covering.
"It is almost large enough to protect thy nose as well, good Bipin," hesuggested.
The solemn expression on the secretary's face deepened as he receivedwhat he believed to be sure confirmation of the evil lurking inPrasad's mind.
"As the saying is, noble sir," he rejoined with an assumption of sagegravity. "He who looks well to the roof of his house need troublelittle about an approaching storm."
"Truly Bipin, thou art a philosopher," remarked the Rani with a smile.
"Aye, always by thy favor, noble Lady," he answered.
"I keep a good watch not only upon my nose and ears, but upon all myother possessions."
The secretary concluded this passage of words with a wary look directedtoward Prasad. He then advanced and delivered a missive to the Rani.
"From the Maharaja Sadescheo of Shahpur," he said, bowing. "A messengerhath just delivered it at the palace."
The Rani took the letter eagerly.
"Ah," she exclaimed. "Now we shall know whether Sadescheo's newlyacquired martial spirit leads him to join the Peshwa. If I mistakenot, his avarice prompts him to cast longing eyes upon the revenuesof Jhansi. It is a treasure chest rather than honor which men likeSadescheo crave."
She hastily opened the letter and gathered its contents.
"Go," she cried with a commanding air, to Bipin. "Go, but remain withincall, as I may need thy services."
When Bipin had retired, she handed the letter to Prasad.
"Read that, my Lord," she exclaimed. "We need no longer remain in doubtas to Sadescheo's reason for collecting troops. He reminds me that asthe late Raja's cousin he is entitled to some voice in the settlementof affairs, and that until I have been proclaimed in a _Darbar_ of theJhansi nobles, he cannot recognize my right to inherit the throne. Thefool! the fool"! she continued passionately. "How many of them arethere to be taught that the power of Lachmi Bai doth not rest upon thewill of nobles, but in her own spirit, and in the love of her people."?
Prasad, in turn, read the letter, and then tossed it contemptuouslyfrom him.
"Who is this Sadescheo that presumes to question your authority"? hedemanded.
"Oh," she returned with a gesture of disdain. "Maharaja Sadescheopossesses a fortress at Shahpur. He hath some followers; but he wouldnever have dared to address me in this fashion had Ahmad Khan remainedat my side. I fear he must have received some hint of the Mohammedan'sdefection."
"Ah! Ahmad Khan! Ahmad Khan"! Prasad ejaculated impatiently. "His nameis ever sounding in my ears."
He rose abruptly and passed to one of the windows where he gazedangrily out upon the lowering clouds, that swept across the sky, atintervals drenching the land with cyclonic violence.
Then as if a resolution was suddenly formed in his mind, he returned tothe Rani's side and besought her in fervent accents.
"Fair Rani," he cried. "Why speakest thou so much of this Ahmad Khan?Surely thou canst no longer hold him in thy favor. One look upon hissurly countenance and thou beholdest treachery marked by every line. Ofthis, recently thou hast had ample proof. But give me, ah, dear lady, Iimplore thee, give into my hands the command of thy troops, and thoushalt see how quickly I will subdue this presumptuous Maharaja."
The Rani smiled approvingly upon his eager countenance, but shook herhead negatively.
"Prasad, well do I believe in thy devotion and courage, but thou arthasty in judgment. Consider how rash would be thy action. Thou wouldstcarry my troops away to Shahpur, and leave me--to whom wouldst thouleave the defense of the city? To Ahmad's soldiers? Nay surely! No,"she added thoughtfully. "In my mind all such work without the city mustfall to Ahmad's lot. But how to control his savage nature, for themoment, I see not clearly."
Prasad again paced to a little distance. An expression of keendisappointment settled on his face.
"Nay Prasad," she enjoined in a gentle voice. "Be not out of humor withme. Thou dost not rightly see these things. Thou dost not understandwhat bitter jealousy would be stirred up among my own people, if I gaveto thee that which many worthy officers covet most. Ahmad may be agreater villain than even thou wouldst have him, but forget not he goesto battle with greater zest than to a banquet. Bloodshed and rapine arehis calling, and few there are who do not shudder at his name. Ah! If Icould only send him forth to this impertinent Sadescheo."
"Is it possible thou, too, art afraid of him"? suggested Prasad.
A laugh of derision escaped the Rani's lips.
"Lachmi Bai afraid of Ahmad--of anyone? Nay, you know her not, OPrasad."
The Hindu noble's intense jealousy prompted him to an ungallant retort.He turned quickly toward her and muttered betw
een his clenched teeth:
"Perchance thou art in love with the Mohammedan"?
She rose to her feet and stood confronting him; her form quivering withemotion; her cheeks aflame; her eyes flashing threateningly; her breastthrobbing with the insult.
"Dare not thou ever speak to me again such thought," she retortedsternly. "Dost think that I, of noble birth and lofty caste, woulddescend to gratify the passion of an accursed Moslem, even if he couldplace upon my head an empire's crown. Dost think--Ah, Prasad," shecontinued in a softer tone. "Thou art surely out of thy mind to speakthus to me. Thou hast forgotten that although I am the Rani, I am stilla woman. I did not think this of thee."
Her voice quavered as the passion roused by the insult to her dignitygave place to a realization of the wound made, by one, for whom she hadcome to form a tender regard.
Prasad glanced at the eyes from which the fire had been quenched bygathering tears. He was seized with contrition, and cast himselfabjectly at her feet.
"Ah! Beast that I am," he cried in accents of self reproach. "How dareI throw a doubt upon thine honor? Forgive me. Forgive my folly, thoudear one. Surely thou knowest it is my love for thee, which maketh mehate the very name of any other uttered by thy matchless lips. I vow itis my only desire to do thee service, aye, if it be the will of God, togive my life for thee."
She rested a hand gently upon his shoulder, and gazed down upon himwith affection.
"This time thou art forgiven," she returned. "But distress me not soagain, my Prasad. Thou shall yet do me not unrequited service, if thoucanst be unresentful of the means I am compelled to use to make my willobeyed. If thou seest me take in hand a two edged sword, be assured itis the best weapon I can find to parry disloyalty in both Hindu andMohammedan."
"So be it, fair lady," he replied. "Thou art my will, my life."
He rose to his feet and for the moment was tempted by an uncontrollabledesire to enfold her in his arms. He took a hurried pace forward, butthe act was prevented by the entrance of a woman servant.
"My Lady Rani," the latter announced. "Ahmad Khan hath come to thepalace. He urgently craves an audience with your Highness."
The Rani's face expressed welcome surprise.
"So," she cried. "Ahmad returns to caress the hand that sways hisdestiny. Fierce beast that he is. I--I am his mistress, aye, his master.
"Come," she added, beckoning to Prasad. "Be watchful of thy temper, Ogood friend."
When the Rani entered the room in which Ahmad was waiting, he salutedher with profound reverence. Thrice he made a courtly _salaam_ at arespectful distance. In his outward manner there was no sign of thearrogance which had marked his last abrupt entrance into her palace.
Whatever conclusion the Rani drew from the glance directed towardhim, she extended a friendly greeting. "Thou art welcome, Ahmad," sheexclaimed, intimating her pleasure that he should draw nearer. "Thouart ever welcome to the Palace of the Rani. I trust thou art recoveredfrom thy sickness."
"Noble Lady," he replied, as if with an effort. "The physician hadenjoined a longer period of confinement to my room; but the news fromShahpur made me hasten to thy side."
The Rani started.
"Hast thou heard from Sadescheo then"? she asked wistfully.
"Of him rather than from him, noble Lady," replied Ahmad. "Sadescheogathers troops about his fortress, so it is thy humble servant's advicethat thou dost, without loss of time, dispatch a strong body to learnhis reason."
The Rani turned a searching look upon the Mohammedan.
He met her gaze unflinchingly.
"Then will I set forth to bring this dog of a Maharajato his senses"?--Page 57.]
"Noble Rani," he petitioned. "Thou hast good cause to doubt my faithand word. But, gracious Lady, hear my explanation. True is it thatBahadur Shah commanded me to protect the Government of Jhansi, butsurely for thy sake. My people were carried away by their zeal andtriumph over the Foreigners. They were guilty of an offense against thyauthority. In the same enthusiasm of the hour I, too, lost control ofmy proper reverence for thy person. For this, noble Rani, I do seek thypardon; and as evidence of my regret, I beg that thou wilt direct me tomarch instantly with three hundred Afghan troopers, who have arrivedthis morning without the city, and demand submission of this Sadescheo.Be assured if he does not comply speedily, I will rout his people likesheep before a band of wolves. In chains, at my horse's hoofs, will Idrag him and his relatives hither."
While Prasad gazed with wonder at the Mohammedan's altered manner, theRani assured him that the past had already been forgotten.
"Then will I set forth for Shahpur, noble Rani," he asked, "to bringthis dog of a Maharaja to his senses"?
"Not so hastily, my Lord," the Rani answered thoughtfully. "The swordonce out of its sheath, the fight is on, and who knows what a turmoilwe may stir up in the state. Wiser it would seem to me, to overaweSadescheo by a display of greater force. How many people, think you,hath he already collected to his support"?
"Noble Lady," replied the Mohammedan, "I know, nor care not. But giveto me the order and with a hundred Afghans to every thousand of hispeople few will remain in Shahpur to tell of Ahmad's visit."
"Ahmad, good friend," replied the Rani authoritatively. "That must notbe. Well do I know and appreciate thy courage, but bloodshed amongourselves is what I strive to avoid."
"Better to crush the cobra before it raises its head," he remarkedsignificantly.
"Aye, but I would rather that with thy Afghan horsemen, thou dost takean equal number of my troopers. Then will Sadescheo perceive that bothHindu and Mohammedan are united in my cause, and will submit withoutresort to force."
Ahmad appeared to coincide with her argument.
"Thou speakest ever wisely, O Rani," he returned. "But in such eventmight not I ask that the noble Prasad Singh here, doth lead thy troops,if he will deign the comradeship of so rough a man at arms."
Prasad looked up eagerly at the unexpected request, and impliedcompliment. He began to view Ahmad in a different light.
"With the Rani's permission, gladly will I do so," he acquiesced.
The Rani perceived that Prasad's presence with the expedition might actas a restraining influence, as well as a safeguard upon the Mohammedan.
She gave her consent readily.
"Thou wilt take three hundred of my horsemen," she addressed Prasad,"and accompany Ahmad Khan to Shahpur. Upon thy return a _Darbar_ shallbe held in which I will make the chief appointments in the state."
She then turned to Ahmad and asked if it would be possible for him toreach Shahpur in the present state of the weather.
"Fair Lady," replied the Mohammedan. "Have I not fought among theAfghan passes when the winter snows were tinged a bloody red. Have Inot chased Kurd horsemen into their bleak fastnesses. Such squalls asthese but refresh the mettle of our steeds. Fear not, at daybreak,Ahmad Khan will break his fast with Sadescheo."
"Then farewell, my Lords," the Rani cried. "Go, terrify Sadescheo asmuch as thou wilt, but, remember, draw not the sword unless thou artcompelled as thou regardest my favor."
Ahmad saluted and retired first from her presence. Prasad was about tofollow, when he paused a moment.
"What are thy commands"? he asked in a low tone, as if he expected anorder yet to be disclosed.
"Be watchful," she replied. "For the present he may be trusted,because"--
A smile of triumph broke upon her face as she concluded--
"If thou dost love the Rani, remember her command."
She passed to a window and watched the two nobles mount their chargers.Her spirit was stirred by the sight of their martial bearing.
"Ah"! she sighed regretfully. "Ah! How I would like to be one of them.To be a man and ride forth sword in hand, to battle; to hear the cannonroar, and mingle with the clash of arms. Perhaps, who can tell, someday the Rani may command her troops in person."
Then her thoughts took another channel.
"Sadescheo," she exclaimed. "Sadescheo! Po
or, foolish, coward. I haveno fear how he will act when the dawn finds Ahmad demanding admittance,in my name, at the gates of Shahpur."