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100 Singh found an opportunity of seizing the diamond, it was in possession of Sháh Shujá, the ex-monarch of Kábul, who had been ousted by his brother, and who came to the Punjab as an exile. Ranjít Singh, partly for political reasons, desiring to have in his hand a weapon which he could use against the Afghán usurper, but chiefly in order to obtain the celebrated jewel, offered Sháh Shujá an asylum at Lahore. The Sikh chroniclers of Ranjít Singh have asserted that Sháh Begam, the wife of Sháh Shujá, sent a messenger to the Mahárájá, promising him the Koh-i-Núr, if he would protect her husband and not surrender him to Fateh Khán, the governor of Pesháwar, his deadly enemy; that the Mahárájá at once accepted the present, and sent his trusted general, Mokham Chand, to escort the exiled monarch with all honour to Lahore.

The story told by Sháh Shujá differs from this, and states that the subject of the Koh-i-Núr was never mentioned until Ranjít Singh had him safely in Lahore in the house assigned him for a residence, when he sent brusquely to demand it. The poor fugitive denied having the stone with him; Ranjít Singh sent back and offered a large estate in exchange. Sháh Shujá again asserted that it had been placed for security in the hands of a shráf or money-lender, but that it would become available when the friendship between the Mahárájá and himself had taken a definite shape and was secured by sufficient guarantees. Ranjít Singh lost his temper, and forgetting the Oriental duty of hospitality, placed a guard of soldiers