1 262 THE LORDS OF THE HILLS ;
2 for the first half of his court life, high-mettled, easily ruffled,
3 never persuaded, over-petted, hot-blooded, light-headed ; and for
4 the last few years, by freedom broken, by lust satiated, by jea-
5 lousy embittered — a crest-fallen, broken-hearted desperado."
6 Of Rajah Heera Sing-, the son of Dehan Sing", and who
7 succeeded to his father's place and power at the court of Lahore,
8 our authority thus writes :
9 " Of Raj ah Heera Sing-, at one time the virtual ruler of the
10 Punjaub a few words may be said. He was twenty-three years
11 of age and was what might be called a spoiled child when he died.
12 The pet of Runjeet, or Runjeet's own last darling chicken, perhaps
13 his last and most loving victim ; made up of many of the most
14 curious and contradictory ingredients ; still addicted to low
15 cunning, pride, effeminacy and licentious debauchery — the
16 shameless intruder and Paul Pry of the court harem. Crouch-
17 ing, mean and timid to superiors, or those to be dreaded ; silent
18 and suspicious to equals ; proud, supercilious and arrogant to
19 inferiors ; subtle and deceitful to all : — too proud and high to
20 take notice or even to return the salute of men of higher rank
21 and certainly of better character than himself ; reared and
22 brought up as the lap-dog of Runjeet and his dissolute associa-
23 tes ; with a little smattering of English, Persian and Sanscrit,
24 and pretending to a perfect knowledge of all! In person
25 somewhat handsome, and approaching to his father's likeness ;
26 always rectifying his dress, whiskers, beard, mustachios, and
27 invariably chewing or seeming to chew something. Clean,
28 neat, and showy in appearance, the would-be copy of his father —
29 but too effeminate and proud ; unstable, or seemingly dare not
30 walk, stir, sit, rise, eat, drink, or sleep, or even speak,
31 answer, think, suggest or decide, without what ? A trifling sign
32 — a careless nod— or some such other sufficient token of consent
33 from the magic finger of his mystrious jailor, his old and
34 original guardian spirit, his grand secret keeper, his sole advi-