Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/44

24 challenged the State Karbhari, if he dared, to prove his innocence before a court of law.

Thus brought to bay, Rao Bahadur Barve had to accept the challenge with grim determination. He hauled up before the Bombay High Court Tilak and Agarkar and some of his enemies at Kolhapur. His contention was that his enemies at Kolhapur had formed themselves into a caucus and had determined to blaspheme him. His arch-opponent was one Nana Bhide who having been refused a pleader's Sanad, had sought to wreck his vengeance by machinations in and outside the State. A willing tool was found by Nana Bhide in the natural mother of the Prince who had a grievance of her own against the Diwan. Finding themselves impotent to do mischief in the State, these persons had gone over to Poona, caught the ear of a credulous public and having approached the inexperienced editors of the Kesari and the Mahratta, secured an outlet for their fury. The letters, purporting to be his were mere fabrications made by Nana Bhide. He had never plotted against the life or the gadi of his master. The accusations made against him were wantonly wicked and he called for exemplary punishment of the offenders.

The sympathies of an admiring public centred round Tilak and Agarkar. They had championed the cause of the representative cf the historic dynasty of Shivaji the Great. They could gain nothing and had risked much for the peace and happiness of an unlucky Prince. They were defended by the combined ability and eloquence of Bombay's rising leaders—the fiery Mehta and the sweet-tempered Telang.