1 72 SECRET HISTORY OF THE LAHORE DURBAR.
2 son of Runjeet Sing, a child of five or six years of age, whom
3 it now suited his purpose to consider the rightful heir to the
4 throne, and whose cause he determined to espouse. This
5 child was now frequently sent for by the Minister, who fondled
6 and caressed it, and made a great shew of respect for it. In
7 this conduct Shere Sing saw evidence that he had nothing
8 more to expect from his quondam friend and upholder. He,
9 therefore, strove in many ways to get rid of him ; but the
10 Rajah was not so to be shaken off. The Maharajh was no
11 match for the subtle enemy who was now planning his ruin.
12 Thus matters proceeded until the Scindawallas, seeing how
13 affairs stood, thought that the opportunity presented itself
14 of doing something for their own aggrandisement, at the
15 expense of both the sovereign and his Minister. They well
16 knew that they were regarded with suspicion by Shere Sing,
17 whom they considered as an upstart and an usurper; and
18 they were fully aware that the Minister admitted them to his
19 friendship solely for the purpose of making them his tools
20 and would afterwards cast them off, perhaps even cause their
21 ruin and death, without scruple.
22 Having concocted their plans, the Scindawalla brothers
23 first waited on Shere Sing, and in a private conference told
24 him, with apparent candour, that as his loyal subjects, and as
25 his brethren in caste, religion, and family, they could not re-
26 frain from putting him on his guard against the machinations
27 and designs of his Minister. Then, having prevailed on the
28 Maharajh to take an oath of secrecy, they assured him that they
29 were actually commissioned by the Minister to assassinate
30 him, Shere Sing ; and that for this business they had been
31 promised a jaghire of sixty lakhs, that they should be the
32 guardians of Dulleep Sing, the child whom it was proposed
33 to place on the guddee, and that while Dehan Sing was osten-
34 sible minister, they should be the actual regents during the
35 minority of the new Maharajh. This declaration, made with