Mallaraj and His Jewels Mallaraj was deep in thought the day he sent the letter to Colonel Brave. At a time when the foreigner could be driven away and the country could be ruled by natives, he had decided on an alliance with the foreigner. The alliance would soon become public knowledge and that was certain to bring condemnation and censure from the entire clan and community as well as other native states. The possible disgrace perturbed him. But he considered the possible gains of the future and felt less uneasy. This inner struggle made him weary. The letter to Colonel Brave was sent in the afternoon. By dusk a messenger arrived in Ratnanagari. Mallaraj’s favourite Bhayat, his cousin Samant Mulu accompanied the messenger to the king’s presence. Mallaraj sat leaning against the bolsters, smoking his hookah, unmindful of the perspiration that soaked his forehead. He held the hookah in one hand and his sword in the other. The messenger and Samant came in and sat down, but Mallaraj remained oblivious of their presence. After some time Samant spoke, ‘Maharaj, we still have time to reconsider. A fierce battle has broken out in Kanpur. The English judge of Fatehpur was tried, sentenced to death and his body was cut into small pieces which were thrown among the people. The Company’s rule has disappeared.’ Mallaraj pursed his lips in anger and said, ‘A judge is like their brahmin. Did these cowards kill a brahmin? Did the judge kill a few before being taken captive?’ ‘Can any Englishman be captured before he kills a few?’

‘If their brahmins are so brave, what would happen when we fight their Rajputs? Tell me, was it a Rajput who cut up his dead body and threw away the pieces?’ ‘Can a Rajput ever be an enemy of the dead?’ Mallaraj reclined on his bolsters and, putting aside the hookah, said, ‘Aren’t Rajputs ashamed of the company of such irreligious men?’ ‘Maharaj, I did not realise that you would so brazenly take the side of the British. What has to happen shall happen. Tatya Tope’s forces have camped outside the borders of Ratnanagari. Their leader has sent a message,’ said Samant. The messenger relayed the message: ‘Maharaj, about three thousand of Tatya Tope’s men have camped at a distance of about twenty furloughs outside Ratnanagari. Others are likely to join them soon. They demand grains for the men and fodder for the horses. They are willing to pay but claim that if grains and fodder are denied them for payment, they will forcibly seize them. It appears that by morning they will enter the capital.’ ‘Anything else?’ Mallaraj asked impatiently. ‘No. But I heard them talk among themselves. They say that they want friendship with the native states, but that they will capture any state that harbours foreigners.’ ‘Very well. You go back to your post and keep an eye on their movements. I want a report at midnight and before dawn.’ The messenger retreated with