The young Ashruf ran lightly along before the party, leading them, by
narrow lanes and streets familiar to him, direct to the spot where the
occurrences of the night had taken place; and under such guidance--for
the boy's speed never flagged for a moment--Afzool Khan and his men
arrived at the building where Fazil was waiting, almost ere the sun's
rays were sparkling upon the tall minarets and domes of the city.
He had looked anxiously for their coming long ere dawn broke; for he
had awakened as usual for the morning prayer, in which he was joined by
the Duffadar and several other devout members of the guard: and since
its conclusion he had been sitting on the step of the guard-room, or
watching Bulwunt, who slept heavily but restlessly, and speculating
on the reason of his young messenger's delay. Truly cheering was it,
therefore, after hearing from a great distance the rapid advance of a
body of horsemen borne on the still morning air, to see the well-known
band of spearmen, led by the young Ashruf, turn the corner of the
street, and immediately following them the tall figure of his father,
and with him perhaps fifty of the Paigah.
A few moments served to bring the party to the spot. As his father
strove to alight rapidly, Fazil sprang to aid him with a joyful cry;
and when the old Khan could disengage himself from his stirrup,
a hearty embrace followed, to the no small wonder of a crowd of
neighbours, whom the unexpected appearance of a well-known nobleman and
his dashing escort had collected: and who could not understand the warm
greeting and embrace between what appeared to be a Hindu beggar, still
much besmeared with wood-ashes and paint, and so gallant a cavalier as
Afzool Khan.
Led by Fazil into the apartment we have already mentioned, the Khan
submitted to be seated upon a carpet; and the room being partially
cleared, he proceeded to inquire into the circumstances of his son's
detention, and of the fray of which Ashruf had informed him. Upon
Bulwunt, the sound of the old Khan's voice acted like a charm. Weakened
by loss of blood, he had fallen into a dreamy kind of doze rather than
sleep, which the trampling of the horses, and exclamations from their
riders as they arrived, had converted into an imaginary battle-field,
on which he lay wounded and helpless; but when the well-known voice of
his lord was no longer doubtful, he was aroused, and, raising himself
feebly, earnestly requested his master to come to him to hear, as he
thought them, his last words.
"He is not in fault, my lord," he said faintly, and pointing to Fazil.
"They would have made out that he wounded me--may their tongues rot!
He will tell you all that happened, and how the enemy of my house,
Tannajee Maloosray, has given me my death-blow."
"Not so, brave Bulwunt," said the Khan, cheerfully; "there is no fear
of thee, methinks. Thou art weak, and thy sight fails thee; but keep a
good heart, friend, thou will strike many a blow yet for Afzool Khan; a
few days' rest, and this trouble will be forgotten."
"Has he told you all?" asked Bulwunt.
"Not yet, not yet, friend; but I shall hear it ere long."
"Track him, track him, my lord," continued Bulwunt; "Maloosray cannot
be gone far. He is even now in the city, at one of the Mutts or Serais.
He could not escape if the gates were watched. He might even be found
at----"
But speech suddenly failed the poor fellow, and, exhausted with his
effort, he sank back, fainting, on the pillow.
"What did he say, son?" asked the Khan, quickly; "what of Tannajee
Maloosray? Him of Pertábgurh--the friend of Sivaji Bhóslay?"
"Even so, father," replied Fazil. "I did not mention him, as there
were so many listeners, and the matter was for your private ear; but,
as Bulwunt has said it, no matter now. Would that we knew his haunts!
Perhaps he knows, but he is too exhausted to speak."
"Tannajee Maloosray here!--in Beejapoor!" exclaimed the Khan, "and
hath done this deed! O that we knew where the villain were hiding!
Nevertheless, the gates shall be well guarded; that was a good thought
of thine, Bulwunt. Ho, without there! One of ye ride to each gate of
the city--tell those on guard there, that Maloosray hath been seen
within the city last night, and all that pass out are to be well looked
to. Do ye hear?"
"Jo Hookum," cried a number of the men who heard the order; and after a
brief consultation together, single horsemen dashed away to the several
places to which their errands tended.
"And now change thy dress, son," continued his father; "this disguise
is hardly seemly to thee. Here is a suit, and there will be water
outside."
"If the Duffadar here have no objection," returned the young man. "You
forget, father; I am his prisoner of my own free will."
"Chut, chut, boy! thou art no prisoner--be quick," cried the Khan.
"The saints forbid," interposed the Duffadar, "that any one of such
exalted faith as the son of Afzool Khan should be ever suspected of
being an infidel. When----"
"There, there, Fazil! go!" interrupted the Khan, laughing; "I have no
eyes for thee in that abomination; let us see thee in thy proper shape."
"Then follow me, father, into this apartment," replied Fazil; "I have
that to say which will not bear witnesses--much that is marvellous."
"That I doubt not, son. I will follow when Bulwunt is cared for; I see
they have brought up the palankeen."
So saying, the Khan tried to raise the wounded man, while he spoke
cheerily to him. Again, at the sound of his lord's voice, the spirit of
the retainer rallied, but it apparently hovered between life and death;
for, after another faint attempt to speak, he fell back exhausted.
"It is of no use," muttered the Khan; "he will die, I fear, and we
can ill spare him. Ho, without! bearers or spearmen! Come in some of
ye. And look ye," he added, as several entered, "take up Bulwunt Rao,
carefully, as he lies, by the corners of the blanket; put him into the
palankeen, and take him home at your easiest pace. He is to be lodged
in the private apartment of the Khilwut. Get a bed from the house, and
send for our physician directly, and the surgeon of the palace.... Now,
begone."
Carefully and gently the men raised him up, and bore him out. He
groaned heavily as he reached the open air, yet it seemed to revive
him, for he looked around. Some of his comrades who crowded round
spoke cheerily to him, and he recognized them and smiled. He was at
once placed in the litter, and the bearers, at a rapid but easy pace,
proceeded homewards.
"I dare not have spoken to thee, my son," said the old Khan, when he
had joined Fazil, who was busily engaged washing the ashes from his
face, neck, and arms, "before those people, though I was burning to do
so. So thou hast really discovered something by the night's adventure.
This Tannajee,--what of him? Tell me quickly?"
"Alas! father," returned the young man, sadly, "I know so much, and of
such weighty matters, that my soul trembles under them. I would almost
that I had not gone out last night, or that other lips than mine had to
tell thee a tale of treachery and wrong-doing."
"Son! I see it in thy face. The Wuzeer!" exclaimed the Khan, starting.
"He is false, father--false," continued Fazil.
"Ah, I feared so; but speak, boy, how is it? Who told thee?" cried
Afzool Khan, impatiently.
"I need not say more to confirm it than that the King knows it,"
returned Fazil; "and that he has papers now in his possession which
leave no doubt of Khan Mahomed's treachery; Mirza Anwur Ali and the
Shah took them last night, and paid for them."
"Ya Alla kureem! and where was this? By the Prophet, tell me, Fazil! My
soul eats your words! speak, boy, quickly."
Then Fazil rapidly sketched the scene of which the reader already
knows the detail, while the old Khan listened in silent amazement, his
forefinger between his teeth.
"Ya Khubeer-o! and hath all this been so easily found out?" he
exclaimed. "Ah, Khan Mahomed! often has your poor friend warned you;
but in vain. Now you are lost, alas, alas! and for that insane ambition
which would not be repressed."
"We must save him, father!" cried Fazil; "he must not perish. At the
risk of my own life would I do aught possible to avert the danger which
threatens him. What can we do? Implore the King to spare the ancient
friend of his house? or write and warn him? Ah, father, you are his
most valued friend, and his son is as a brother to me! Speak; what can
be done?"
"Alas, I know not yet, son," he replied, sadly; "but tell it again;
all, Fazil--all that the King said. I will think it over. Wishing to
save, we must not destroy."
Fazil again narrated what he had seen, and, as well as he could
remember them, the contents of the letter which the Lalla had repeated.
But the Khan thought long and deeply on the whole matter ere he could
see his way to action. At last he said to his son--
"What I have determined upon ought to suit both parties. I will go
instantly to the King, and try if his purpose as to the Wuzeer can be
discovered. I must take the papers he gave me in any case. Do thou,
Fazil, go to thy friend--it may be that he knows all; but, if not, he
can be warned of the danger. Timely submission may alone avert it; but
the peril is fearful."
"Alla is just, and it will be as He wills," returned his son, devoutly;
"but we must not forget that Lalla; his presence may be of moment, and
it were well he were cared for; his wound was a mere scratch, and he
may be able to ride; let us send for him."
So a messenger was despatched to bring him, or to ascertain, at least,
whether he could ride; as, if not, a litter would be provided. To the
vexation of Fazil, however, and his father, the messenger returned,
saying that a litter had already been sent by the Kótwal's orders,
about the time of morning prayer, and he had been taken away to that
officer.
"Jehándar Beg is faithful," said the old Khan. "He is as true to the
King's salt as I am myself, else I should have feared the result; but
who can hold the Lalla's tongue?--that is what I dread, Fazil."
"And he did not appear over-discreet either, father," replied Fazil;
"however, the best thing we can do is to follow up the information, and
go to the Kótwallee; it is my duty, too, to see the worthy old Duffadar
safe through the matter, for truly he did what he could."
"True, son," returned Afzool Khan; "and I will accompany thee. Jehándar
Beg may not have forgotten some matters in which I have been able to
befriend him now and then. No; that Lalla must not slip through our
hands, Fazil."
By this time Ashruf had saddled his father's ambling pony, and stood
waiting without, so the cavalcade was soon ready. The Khan's men were
all mounted, and a few of the Duffadar's guard attended as escort to
the kullal, for whom his own pony had been provided, so that there was
no delay; and as Fazil and his father stepped from the guard-room, the
young man's appearance was the signal for a shout of congratulation
from all, which being duly acknowledged, Fazil turned with a smile to
the old Duffadar, and told him "his prisoners" were ready.
"If I can but assist ye, noble gentlemen," said the old man,
respectfully, "in this matter, it will be a happy thing; and if my
son----"
"Bismilla!" exclaimed Afzool Khan, mounting his horse, and interrupting
him; "we are no evil-doers, to fear justice. Move forward!"
The building where the Kótwal's morning court was held, was at no very
great distance, in the city itself; the other court was within the
fort, not far from the King's palace; and they proceeded to the former
at a rapid pace. By-and-by, as they drew nearer the place of their
destination, a horseman dashed on to give notice of the near approach
of the Khan, in order that he might be met, and greeted in a manner due
to his rank.
"What can bring Afzool Khan, the pious and true, here?" asked one of
the under-officers on duty at the entrance guard-room of the outer
court. "He is no brawler or intriguer."
"Who knows, Meer Sahib," replied the person addressed. "In these days
the world is turning topsy-turvy, and one has to see and believe
strange things. There is already a report that the young Khan is in
fault, and has wounded the man who was brought in a little while ago
upon a bed, and killed another; for a body was found this morning near
a temple beyond the fort. I was at the Bazar mosque at early prayer,
and they said there it would be a bad business. What matter? Afzool
Khan has plenty of cash, and a sharp fine will set all straight."
"I pray it may be no worse, friend," returned the first speaker; "but
I have heard Jehándar Beg swear upon the holy book to spare no one if
blood hath been shed; and here is one man dead and one wounded to be
accounted for. A bad business, friend--a bad business; but we shall
see. God grant it may not lead to that!" and he pointed to the corner
of the court, where lay a hand in a pool of blood--a ghastly evidence
of summary justice on a criminal but just performed. "But we shall see;
the Khan is heavily attended, and methinks it would be as well to let
him alone."
"Ay, friend, he is one of the old stock, well tried and trusted; the
peace of God and the Prophet be upon him and his; and that is a brave
boy, 'tis a pity he should be in any trouble. Would we had more of them
about the King! Truth is lie, and lie is truth, friend, in these days;
and men whisper that Jehándar Beg is no friend to Afzool Khan, nor the
Wuzeer either, and they are of the same party; but we shall see. What
will be, will be."