The Malicious Monocle

 Mongoose silently watched the Governor General’s Tea from behind a rosewood screen. He watched the faces of Hedgehog’s guests as they spoke with the “Raja”.

Trotting out a look a like of the real Raja had been Mongoose’s plan. A plan he had no intention of allowing to fail. So far, none of the guests had said or done anything to make Mongoose believe they doubted the Raja’s identity.

Mongoose watched Elephant as well. The Raja looked to be enjoying himself as he nibbled daintily on a delicate cucumber sandwich.  Between nibbles he exchanged vacuous nothings with the other guests and looked well pleased with himself.

He should enjoy himself, thought Mongoose. His life would be forfeit once the true Raja had been found and disposed. It only remained to be determined how Mongoose would be allowed to kill the imposter. The Governor General was not one to allow loose ends to hang about after their usefulness had passed.

Mongoose preferred slowly bleeding useless people to death over a few days, but a quick death could sometimes be just as satisfying. Only time and the Governor General would know which lay in the future of the imposter.