"This letter, noble Rani," said he, "is to the most illustrious Dhundu Panth, Peshwa of the Marathas."
The Rani signified her willingness to listen, and Bipin proceeded to read in a sonorous voice, emphasizing the repetition of his own name by inflection of tone, and gestures—
By the hand of the Intellectual
Bipin Dat
Secretary to Her Highness, Lachmi Bai,
Rani of Ihansiv To
The most noble, Dhundu Panth,
Peshwa of the Marathas
Greeting
"Be it known to you, O most Illustrious Sir, that by the will of God and the pleasure of the great Rani, the Honorable Bipin Dat ventures to address your Sublimity, for the purpose of disclosing certain information, as follows:
"On the 8th of the month the Foreigners were obliterated from the face of the earth in Jhansi, as if the devil had swept them all off into Hades. Further, on the same day, it pleased the great God to direct His people to seat Her Immortal Highness, Lachmi Bai, upon the throne of the Rajas of Jhansi, which events were witnessed by the observant eye, and recorded by the unerring hand of her faithful and esteemed servant, Bipin Dat.
"Lastly, it hath pleased Her Highness the Rani, to recognize the services of the aforesaid Bipin Dat in these great times, by appointing him her munshi.[2] Whereby he has set his hand to this letter on the 12th day of the month, etc.
(Signed) "BIPIN DAT,
"Secretary to the Rani of Jhansi."
Bipin finished his reading with a flourish of the hand and a look upon his solemnly cherubic countenance, that indicated his perfect satisfaction with the composition.
"That, noble Rani," said he, "will in proper form convey to the Peshwa the news of your Highness's accession."
A smile momentarily relieved the Rani's serious expression.
"He will also," she remarked, "be in little doubt as to the identity of the writer. The Peshwa, the Rani, and the Intellectual Bipin Dat. He may wonder if the third is not the most important of the three."
Bipin stroked his chin musingly.
"Dust under thy feet," he replied at last. "That could scarcely be the case, but it has ever been the opinion of the most learned pundits that in the work of great writers their personality shines forth as a diamond amid false gems."