“‘Unless Lal Lu is returned to her father by nightfall, another handful of precious stones will be replaced by as many pebbles.
“‘And this to warn thee:
“‘The native troops at Meerut are in revolt.
“‘They have shot the regimental officers, and have put to death every European they could find.
“‘They are now on their way to Delhi to proclaim Dahbur Dhu, thy grandfather, sovereign of Hindustan.
“‘The Moghul is old.
“‘Thou art next in succession.’
“There was no signature.
“None was needed; the prince had preserved several specimens of that chirography at the bottom of various interesting bills of sale.