The durbar proceeded. Formally, and according to strict
precedence, each man spoke. With great amiability Colonel Starr
presented the demands of the English Government; with greater
amiability the Maharajah and his officers repelled them. But
Colonel Starr was firm, and he had the unanswerable argument of
three hundred well-armed men and two nine-pounders, which Maun Rao
would have to meet with Petroff Gortschakin's cartridges. After
duly and sadly reflecting upon this, the Maharajah concluded that
he would give up ee-Wobbis's murderers--one of them at any rate--
and let himself be arranged, at all events for the present.
Afterwards he would say to Maun Rao that it was only for the
present. He summoned all his politeness to his aid, and said in
the end that such was his admiration for the English Lord Sahib in
Calcutta, such his friendship and respect, that he would welcome
any one who came to Lalpore in his name.
'Accompanied by a small force,' added Colonel Starr in the
vernacular, and the Maharajah also added, while Maun Rao behind him
ground his teeth, 'Accompanied by a small force.'
'One word more,' said the Maharajah, 'and the durbar is ended. The
opium pledge will appear, and we will drink it with you. From the
palm of your hand I will drink, and from the palm of my hand you
shall drink; but the lips of the boy who comes with you shall not
taste it.
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