“Before I can explain to you,” proceeded Lehna, “the last words of my departed brother, I have a tale to unfold, a tale which will reveal to you in how high a degree your coming has been opportune.  In these troubled days a loyal, brave, and trusty friend of the Khalsa is far to seek, and it is in quest of such a one that my honoured guest Rajah Lal Singh has, in the face of much peril, come to me from the Maharanee, now at Feragpore, whither she was sent by Purwunnah, under seal of her infant son, the Maharajah, thus made in tender years the instrument of his mother’s disgrace.  But on the cruel affronts of our enemies I need not dwell.  These things are known to all.  The plans which I am about to reveal to you, Atma Singh relate to the future, and speak not of disgrace, but of hope; know that in the treasures of Runjeet Singh there was one jewel—­a sapphire—­of magical property.  To its holder it ensured success in war.  This jewel, the late Maharajah received from my hands.  It was a family heirloom, and descended to your father, the eldest son of our house, through countless generations.  Being, when we were both young, in sore straits, and hard pressed for money, he parted with this talisman to me, on condition that after his death I should return it to his eldest surviving son.  You may guess the poignancy of the grief with which I tell you then that this heirloom is no longer mine.  Many years ago I gave it into the hands of Runjeet Singh for a time, in the belief that its potency would aid our national fortunes” (what equivalent Lehna received, he doubtless deemed it irrelevant to state).  “The brilliancy of his career attests its worth.  It should have been long ago restored to me, but my efforts to regain it were repeatedly baffled, until I was fain to content myself with the reflection that at least it served the cause, and to trust in the future for its recovery.  Believing it to be in the treasury at Lahore, and firmly believing in its potency, those of us who knew of its existence never abandoned hope until its disappearance was, alas! ascertained beyond a doubt.  To such, each defeat of the Khalsa caused amazement deeper than consternation.  The overthrow of the Sikh power seemed a thing incredible until the recent confiscation and plunder of the treasuries, when it became certain to other vigilant onlookers as well as to myself that the Sapphire of Fate was not in the possession of the true rulers of the Punjaub at the time of their downfall.  Contrast the victorious progress of the Lion of the Punjaub with the fallen fortunes of his family, when robbed of what we now believe to be the talisman of his fortunes.  Not only does the Ranee believe that the recovery of this gem will ensure the prosperity of the descendants of Runjeet Singh, but I do firmly believe that its re-possession will rally the Sikh forces to form again a conquering faith.  Son of Raee, have you the courage to serve the Ranee, to regain this, your inheritance, and in obedience to your father’s dying words, to devote it and your own life to a fallen house, whose foes are the foes of the Khalsa?”