George Fraser - Flashman in the Great Game

‘Oh, the subtlety of the British!’ cries she. ‘Such delicacy, like an elephant in a swamp! Lord Palmerston wishes, for his own mysterious reasons of policy, to placate the Rani of Jhansi. So he invites her to repeat the petition which has been repeatedly denied for years. But does he send a lawyer, or an advocate, or even an official of the Company? No – just a simple soldier, who will discuss the petition with her, and how it may best be presented to his lordship. Could not a lawyer have advised her better?’ She folded her hands and came slowly forward, sauntering round me. ‘But how many lawyers are tall and broad-shouldered and … aye, quite handsome – and persuasive as Flashman bahadur ? fn1Not a doubt but he is best fitted to convince a silly female that a modest claim is most likely to succeed – and she will abate her demands for him , poor foolish girl, and be less inclined to insist on fine points, and stand upon her rights. Is this not so?’

‘Highness, you misunderstand entirely … I assure you—’

‘Do I?’ says she, scornfully, but laughing still. ‘I am not sixteen, colonel; I am an old lady of twenty-nine. And I may not know Lord Palmerston’s purpose, but I understand his methods. Well, well. It may not have occurred to his lordship that even a poor Indian lady may be persuasive in her turn.’ And she eyed me with some amusement, confident in her own beauty, the damned minx, and the effect it was having on me. ‘He paid me a poor compliment, do you not think?’

What could I do but grin back at her? ‘Do his lordship justice, highness,’ says I. ‘He’d never seen you. How many have, since you are purdah-nishin ?’ fn2

‘Enough to have told him what I am like, I should have hoped. How did he instruct you – humour her, whatever she is, fair or foul, young and silly or old and ugly? Charm her, so that she keeps her demands cheap? Captivate her, as only a hero can.’ She stirred an eyebrow. ‘Who could resist the champion who killed the four Gilzais – where was it?’

‘At Mogala, in Afghanistan – as your highness heard at the gate. Was it to test me that you had the Pathan spit on my shadow?’

‘His insolence needed no instruction,’ says she. ‘He is now being flogged for it.’ She turned away from me and sauntered back into the durbar room. ‘You may have the tongue which insulted you torn out, if you wish,’ she added over her shoulder.

That brought me up sharp, I can tell you. We’d been rallying away famously, and I’d all but forgotten who and what she was – an Indian prince, with all the capricious cruelty of her kind under that lovely hide. Unless she was just mocking me with the reminder – whether or no, I would play my character.

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