"No," they answered, "he is not ill."
The Sultan summoned Ibrahim Hadjib, and the latter came into the royal
presence. The Sultan, observing on his countenance evident marks of
care and sorrow, spoke thus to him: "Ibrahim Hadjib, are you the
minister in whom the Sultan Mahomet placed his confidence?" He replied
in the affirmative.
"From what motive, Ibrahim Hadjib, did you keep silence, and send me no
word of advice while the ministers of Sultan Mahomet, now here, sent
many letters to show me how to capture the city? Why did you refrain
from appearing before me at court to-day, at the same time with the
ministers and grandees? Why, now that you are here, are you the only
one to wear a sad and mournful appearance and a long face, while all
the others show their joy? To all these questions you must truthfully
respond. And if you speak not the truth you shall be put to death."
"If the Sultan wishes to hear the language of truth and will not be
vexed by it, I will reply to each of his questions. To the first
question, why I sent no letter betraying my King, I will say: Know,
Sultan, that the Sultan Mahomet was the King of this country; that he
gave me many presents and had full confidence in me, thinking that in
the moment of danger I would be his companion and his counsellor. How
could I, then, betray him? I knew you not, and had received no benefits
from you. Would it have been just for me to send you letters and cause
the fall of one who had been so bountiful to me?"
"Your words are just and true," said the Sultan Yakoub.
Ibrahim Hadjib continued: "As to the question why I abstained from
presenting myself at court to-day, and why I wore so sorrowful a face,
I answer: Know that I could not present myself before the Sultan,
because he was the enemy of my master and benefactor, and brought about
the ruin of my lord. That is why I wore a sad face in your presence.
Beside, the children and grandchildren of my lord are plunged in grief
and anxiety, and how could I be happy in your presence, like these
hypocrites, who are very different elsewhere? I have told the truth."
When the Sultan Yakoub had heard these words of Ibrahim Hadjib, he
cried: "God be praised! Up to this time I have heard tell of ministers,
I have seen many kinds, but never have I seen nor heard of a minister
like this one. Now, only for the first time have I seen a true minister
and listened to the words of truth." The Sultan Yakoub loaded Ibrahim
Hadjib with favors, made him prime minister, and gave him the name of
father. As for the other ministers, he caused them to perish, with
their whole families. Then he published this proclamation:
"Behold the fate of those who are faithless to their promises and
commit treason toward their King, for they cannot be counted as men."