RANI: (Interrupting.) Child, why don’t you go out and play with Baba?
DALIP: But I want to be with Larins.
RANI: Later. Now go.
(Exit Dalip.)
What about the Sardars?
LAWRENCE: Nothing specific, Rani Sahiba. I’ve a feeling that the firing this morning was connected with your conspiracy of the Sardars.
RANI: You mean, to divert attention.
LAWRENCE: Somehow I feel their target was in the palace.
RANI: (Afraid.) No! Dalip? No, it couldn’t be.
LAWRENCE: Perhaps not. There’s no point speculating.
RANI: It could well be some lunatic Brahmins who did the firing.
LAWRENCE: Perhaps.
RANI: (Suddenly examining his chogah.) Larins, what is this? This is my husband’s chogah. What are you doing with it?
LAWRENCE: (Quietly.) You won’t understand, Rani Sahiba.
RANI: (Disturbed.) What are you doing with my husband’s robes? Can’t you leave him alone? You’re obsessed with him.
LAWRENCE: (Defensively.) This has nothing to do with your husband.
RANI: Then what’s it all about?
(Pause.)
Tell me—I have a right to know.
LAWRENCE: A right?
RANI: He was my husband; I am the Regent. Besides, you are my friend, and I want to know what happens to my friend.
LAWRENCE: One shouldn’t know everything about one’s friends.
RANI: I must know.
LAWRENCE: (In agony.) There’s nothing to know.
RANI: (Sincerely.) Yes, there is.
LAWRENCE: You won’t understand.
RANI: I understand too well.
(Pause.)
LAWRENCE: No.
RANI: (Disappointed.) You’re just like the rest of them. I thought there was something different in you, Larins. You were simple, austere, single-minded. Now you’re behaving the way the other Ferangis did when they got power under my husband. They became swollen.
(Lawrence makes no answer, attempting to hide the traces of an inner conflict. Rani comes closer.)
Larins, are you all right?
(Pause.)
You were so free of vanity. That’s what I liked about you. You were different.
LAWRENCE: You don’t like me now.
RANI: Of course, I do, silly. I … I do. I do. I do, too much. (Embarrassed.) Now see what you’ve made me say.
LAWRENCE: (Quietly.) This is all to be a better Resident, I think. If you Indians respect authority from its appearances, then it’s sensible to appear properly, isn’t it?
RANI: I’m only sad that my old Larins is changing. I liked you as you were—a soldier with a purpose.
LAWRENCE: The purpose isn’t lost.
RANI: I’m afraid it will be, once you start wearing all these things.
LAWRENCE: For God’s sake, what do clothes have to do with it?
RANI: Nothing. Then why are you changing your clothes?
LAWRENCE: Only to be more effective.
RANI: Larins, you can do all the things you want—give Darbars in the countryside, mete justice to the people like a king. But don’t do it in Lahore. The Sardars will resent it. I don’t like it. In Lahore we must keep up appearances. The Resident in Lahore is an Agent of a friendly power to the South. No more.
(Pause.)
Larins, forget about the Lion. There’s so much you have done in the Punjab. And there’s so much you have to do before Dalip grows up.
LAWRENCE: But what about this land, will it wait for him to grow up?
RANI: Together we will make something of the Punjab. You as my Resident, and I as the Rani. We’ll make it strong and prosperous—just as in the days of the Lion.
LAWRENCE: (Excited.) Yes, yes, just as it was in the days of the Lion. We’ll make it rich and happy. We’ll build, build. Build roads, canals, and the land will sing with joy.
RANI: Oh Larins, I know you will do it too.
LAWRENCE: (Glowing.) Yes, they’ll say that the Lion has returned! The Lion has returned!
(Pause. Rani watches Lawrence’s glowing face.)
RANI: (Tenderly.) Oh Larins … Larins …
(Lawrence kisses her passionately.)
Where did you learn that, Larins?
LAWRENCE: I’m a soldier, remember?
RANI: (Sensually.) Again.
(Lawrence suddenly embarrassed. Moves back a little.)
LAWRENCE: No.
RANI: Why?
LAWRENCE: (Cold.) I don’t know. I’m sorry.
RANI: (Smiling) I order you.
LAWRENCE: No.
RANI: Oh Larins!
(Lights fade.)
Act Two Scene 4
The same. Late afternoon. Two sentries enter.
FIRST SENTRY: Has the fire in Shah’ alami Gate been put out?
SECOND SENTRY: They’re still fighting it. They’ve found twenty-four bodies so far. God knows how many more are trapped inside.
FIRST SENTRY: It’s the biggest fire I’ve seen.
SECOND SENTRY: They say that the same Angrez captain who killed the cow started the fire.
FIRST SENTRY: With the Angrez, it looks like bad times are coming.
SECOND SENTRY: (Spitting out betel.) What nonsense you talk! The Angrez has brought peace to our land. My brother says the Khalsa has never got its salary packet so regularly. The peasants worship him.
FIRST SENTRY: (Whispering.) Is it true that the Resident Sahib has been recalled to Calcutta?
SECOND SENTRY: (Confidentially.) The Wazir’s a powerful man.
FIRST SENTRY: And a jealous one.
SECOND SENTRY: Shh, someone’s coming.
(Enter Lawrence and Lumsden. The two sentries salaam and exit.)
LAWRENCE: I think I’m losing my temper.
(Pause.)
Do I understand that you burnt a whole street because you thought someone needed to be punished for firing on us. Is that right?
LUMSDEN: The filthy natives needed to be taught a lesson.
LAWRENCE: Didn’t you know that an investigation to find the culprits behind the firing was under way …
LUMSDEN: (Savagely) Investigation by that native, Sher Singh!
LAWRENCE: Before I lose my temper, it may be prudent for you to leave. I warned you once. You will return at once to Calcutta.
LUMSDEN: Mr Currie is not going to like this …
LAWRENCE: He is also not going to like your murdering twenty-four people.
LUMSDEN: (Shrugging his shoulders.) Twenty-four natives! I’d burn a thousand filthy natives! Mr Lawrence, I’ll tell you something: the entire English community here and in Calcutta will be on my side when the time comes.
LAWRENCE: (Losing his temper.) Get out! Get out, you insubordinate swine, before I kick you out!
LUMSDEN: Do I get a police escort?
LAWRENCE: (Shouting) Get out!
(Exit Lumsden.)
Ho Sipahi!
FIRST SENTRY: (Entering.) Hazur!
LAWRENCE: Send Sher Singh.
(Exit sentry. Lawrence takes the jewel from his pocket and looks at it
