Mallaraj’s Concerns Yet once more, in justice to this paragon of Heathen excellence, let us remember that Aurelius represents the decrepitude of this era. He is hopeless because the age is hopeless. He cannot rise beyond the sphere of ideas around him. The Heathen world looked for no renovation of a society which was visibly perishing before its face. And now when the popular notion of its degeneration was realised, it accepted its apparent destiny without a murmur.  —Merivale Shubhaji Rao had clear instructions that he should not waste his men and resources on recalcitrant native states. Their efforts had to be preserved for use against the English forces. For these reasons, Shubhaji Rao’s forces did not engage Samant Mulu in a fierce or protracted battle. Mallaraj had permitted only Shubhaji Rao and Keshav Shastri to meet him. Their other associates meanwhile decided to take a look at life in Ratnanagari. They heard that Samant Mulu had set out with his forces. This was enough to indicate to them the fate of the meeting. One of them promptly returned to the inn, while the other rushed to inform the waiting army of the imminent attack. Shubhaji Rao’s forces decided not to engage in battle and prepared to march out of Ratnanagari’s territories. Samant Mulu did attack the retreating army; some men were captured as well. But Shubhaji Rao’s forces made no attempt to either return fire or rescue their captured soldiers. Mallaraj’s soldiers accompanied Shubhaji Rao and his three companions to the borders of the state through another route. The four met with their forces in the morning and abused Mallaraj and Jarashankar to their heart’s content. Samant made sure that Shubhaji Rao had no surprises in store for him; having satisfied himself, he returned to the capital with his forces. Mallaraj released the captives because no war had been fought; he considered such captives to be equal to women. The British captured Delhi, and the tide turned in their favour. The English emerged victorious. Queen Victoria became the Empress of India and made a liberal proclamation written in her own delicate hand. Mallaraj’s predictions came true in every respect; his message to Colonel Brave and his response to Shubhaji Rao further cemented the ties between Ratnanagari and the English. This friendship gave the desired results to Ratnanagari. For long years the king and his minister would remember those difficult and trying days; their memory was not a source of unsullied joy. Mallaraj’s visage would turn sombre whenever he recalled them. Once he remarked, ‘Jarashankar, God has granted us the expected fruits of our efforts. It is a mixed bag. Just as good things have happened, the things we dreaded would happen are also here for us to bear. When father signed the first treaty with the English, I realised that our Rajput valour was about to be widowed. At the time of Nanasaheb’s rebellion, I considered the pros and the cons and further cemented the treaty. But the