Hervey grunted. ‘The fatal gift of rubies.’

‘You might say that.’

‘I can’t deny it’s a very contrary testimony to that which I’ve heard. Why now, though, am I hearing it?’

‘Because your coming here has presented an opportunity that she – we – hadn’t imagined would ever present itself, her very best chance of throwing off the chains. And that she now fears for her life.’

‘Evidently with cause, and for some time. But what is all this of Mysore? How does making mischief there serve Acharya’s purpose? It can only antagonize Fort William.’

‘It serves to justify increase in the army. He has to have some pretence of legitimacy with her. In the end, though, her forfeit life’s the stake, and this he’s always subtly reminded her of, though of late he’s become brazen. Doubtless you’ve heard of the snake pit at the palace?’

‘Hah! There are always snake pits – and muggurs in the moats.’

‘They’re not unknown, surely so – if perhaps more in the imagination than in truth, though imagination will often serve powerfully enough – but let me assure you that there never was such a thing in Chintal until a year ago, when Acharya had it made to serve his terror. Few have actually been flung into it – its mere existence is enough to frighten money or information out of the stoutest heart – but two weeks ago a common felon was deposed thus, most unusually, for public hanging’s the required entertainment, and under some pretext or other, Acharya forced the Ranee to watch, and had two of the bodyguard hold her by the arms at the edge of the pit, so that, he said, she herself didn’t fall. But she understood perfectly that her life was his for the taking.’

Hervey began to think he might be hearing the truth – if there were such a thing in India. He took another glass of lime water.

‘Am I to suppose, then, that the chastisement of the nautch girl is an elaborate ruse to out-dewan the man himself?’

‘Just so. She buys time.’

‘You’ve taken trouble to lay out the case at some length. Time for what?’

‘I have, and for the very reason that I judged you to be of a careful disposition, and also – indeed, chiefly – because as well as the Ranee’s, my forfeit life’s the stake.’

Hervey looked grave. ‘Evidently you have a proposition.’

‘I do. The Ranee would make a treaty with Fort William, the same as Mysore’s, and accept a subsidiary force here. The Company wouldn’t annex Chintal, therefore, as it has Coorg, and therefore wouldn’t profit materially much by it, but it might thereby save itself the charge of pillage.’

Hervey thought for a moment. Could he discuss the proposal without an admission that annexation was exactly what Fort William intended?

‘How would you propose such a treaty be effected if the Ranee’s a prisoner of the dewan? The business of the nautch girl’s hardly likely to make much difference.’