res the pile. Why that
lowering brow? The possession of the palace is all-important to you,
ain't it?"

"Yes, and even more now than when you left me. But to concede Sher
Singh's claim----"

"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----"

"That's merely temporary, Bob, believe me. When the Colonel learns the
scoundrel's real character, he will withdraw his support in disgust."

"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."

"Nor to any one that will bribe them," said Gerrard bitterly. "You
think Antony will make him Regent, then I."

"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."

"It was a kind of fixed idea of his, though I told him over and over
again it was impossible."

"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."

"I am almost inclined to ask you to shoot me through the head and put
me out of my misery," remarked Gerrard.

"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 whe