Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/158

154 her to make the most searching inquiry and to punish the offenders. The Mahárájá in the mean time arrived, attended by his Sardárs, with the exception of one old chief and his relations. The Rání ordered the absent chief to be brought before her, and directed another chief, suspected of being concerned in the murder, to be placed in irons, exhorting him to confess his crime. He declared his innocence, and the Rání gave her sword to the General attending upon her, and desired him to kill the suspected chief.

The Mahárájá now interfered, declaring that it would be criminal to put to death so old a servant of the State without trial. He mounted his horse and proceeded to the Residency to ask advice. In the mean time the absent chief suspected of the murder arrived with his followers, and was met by Jang Bahádúr, who related to him what had happened, and declared it was necessary, in order to appease the Rání, that the chief in irons and General Abhimán Singh should be put to death. This advice was rejected. The General, hearing of the conspiracy against him, collected his soldiers and ordered them to load. As they approached, the Rání descended from the gateway and entering the Hall with the Sword of State exclaimed, 'Who has killed my Minister? Name him quickly, or with this sword I shall kill the prisoner.' This was prevented by the chiefs placing themselves in her way. On her re-ascending the staircase, followed by General Abhimán Singh, he and the old chief were shot down.