"There is something in that, Akram, but not much. Were he asked to explain why he had put one of English blood to death, he would simply reply that he was the nephew of a man who had set the government of Lahore at defiance, had maintained himself by arms, had inflicted heavy losses on the force sent to place the lawful governor appointed by the durbar in power; that the person executed had taken part in this act of rebellion, and that his life was justly forfeited. As all this would be in a way true, there could really be no answer to it, and the English would certainly not embroil themselves with a powerful prince, with whom they were anxious to keep on good terms, on such a matter. Still, if I do see Ghoolab himself, I shall certainly make the most of the kind expressions of Sir Henry Hardinge and the commander-in-chief when I left them at Lahore. I should hardly think, however, that he will see me. He would prefer being able to deny, without chance of contradiction, that he knew anything at all about me."
"But in that case, sahib, how could he use you as the means of forcing the colonel to give up the fortress and his governorship of the district?"
"I should think that most likely he will send word to my uncle that he has learned I have fallen into the hands of some dacoits, and that if my uncle will surrender the fortress he will take measures to rescue me from these men, who will otherwise put me to death."
"The colonel will never believe that," Akram said decidedly; "he will guess at once that you are in the hands of Ghoolab."
"Very likely he will, Akram, but he won’t be able to prove it, and Ghoolab will know well enough that if he were to put me out of the way my uncle could not accuse him of my death, as he would have no evidence of my death to produce in support; and indeed, if Bhop Lal recovered and took him the news of our being carried off, all he could say would be a confirmation of Ghoolab’s story, and would show that I had indeed been carried off by a band of dacoits. It will most likely be known that Goolam Tej’s band were in the neighbourhood, and were doubtless the party who attacked us."
Akram Chunder was silent. He could not gainsay Percy’s argument, and it seemed to him that Ghoolab Singh had indeed the game completely in his hands.