encies, but
kept for the tug of war which might be expected when Kharrak Singh came
of age. The Rani listened with apparent submission, and he was beginning
to congratulate himself on her meekness, when she posed him by suddenly
suggesting a bargain. Let the troops have their increase of pay, and
Sher Singh might have Adamkot. It needed another long argument to prove
to her that there was no question of a compromise, and when she had been
forced to realise, with a very bad grace, that the increased pay would
not be granted, she still remained obstinate on the matter of Sher
Singh's fief. Gerrard was worried by the delay, since it had been
intended to invest the Prince formally on the occasion of Kharrak Singh's
birthday, which was close at hand, but he resigned himself to the
prospect of a succession of further interviews, destined, of course, to
end in the collapse of the Rani's opposition.

The reception in honour of Kharrak Singh's birthday, a very brilliant
affair, was held in a pavilion erected for the purpose in the courtyard
of the palace, since Sher Singh was still debarred entrance to the
building itself. On the dais at the upper end was a silver-gilt
arm-chair for the little Rajah, flanked by plain silver chairs for
Gerrard and Sher Singh, and behind the three chairs was a curtain, which
shielded the Rani and her attendants from the public gaze. Gerrard was
conscious of an unusual amount of whispering and excitement behind the
curtain, but it did not occur to him that this had any special
significance until the speeches were over, and those present came up to
offer their congratulations and their _nazars_. First of all came Sher
Singh, as the foremost subject of the realm, with an offering of gold
coins, which it was Kharrak Singh's duty graciously to accept and retain.
But to Gerrard's dismay, and the horror of all the spectators, the boy
drew back as his brother approached, and folding his arms across his
chest, sat like a little cross-legged image of obstinacy, mutely
declining to notice either the offering or the offerer. Whispered
remonstrances were useless, and Sher Singh, after waiting for a moment in
vain, cast the _nazar_ contemptuously on the gold-worked carpet, and
turned away with a face convulsed with rage. "The child has been put up
to this!" he muttered angrily, and stalked down the gangway, between the
rows of Sirdars and notables. Gerrard beckoned hastily to the next man,
mentally re