As yet the King's thoughts had admitted nothing definitely; the blow
had been too sudden, the provocation too great, for aught but a
numbness of perception which checked conclusive determination; but this
was passing away fast, and it was becoming still more apparent that, if
Khan Mahomed's plan had succeeded, he must, if he survived it, be the
dependent of his own slave and his father's. Were the other letters,
which they had looked over hastily, true also? Men's tongues had before
been busy with the Wuzeer's reputation, and now were so again--the same
subject and the same man; and it was--"true, true!"
Unconsciously he had spoken aloud in his reverie, and the word seemed
to come as if an echo of his own thought.
"Who spoke?" he cried, looking round--"Who spoke?" His very question
seemed to make the silence more impressive; and, as he strained his
eyes into the gloom of the chamber, there was no sound but the gentle
sough of the night wind, laden with moisture, among the trees below
and the open latticework of the windows. "The spirits of the dead are
around me to-night," he continued to himself, shuddering. "Listen,
O father! Listen, sweet mother! O Prophet of God, on whom be peace,
assist and hear me! O thou fountain and dispenser of justice, make me
true and bold; make me, as I should be, thy agent among thy people.
If I have been a child till now, forgive me--that is past.... He
writes to the Emperor, that I am a boy!--that I am a boy! Inshalla!
No! that is past!" As he spoke, the sound of voices below, and of
footsteps ascending the narrow stair were distinctly audible, and he
paused to listen. "It is they at last, and the Meerza has not delayed.
Enter," he cried, as the steps appeared to reach the landing-place and
doorway--"enter, I am here."
The heavy quilted curtain was pushed aside, and three persons
advanced--one the Meerza or secretary we have before mentioned; the
other two we have not yet seen; but they had been often employed as
confidential advisers by the King, and he had now sent for them. When
they returned from the temple, the King and his secretary had examined
the papers they had obtained, with great care and anxiety, and they
proved to be far more voluminous and important than even our friend the
Lalla had imagined.
The dates of the letters extended over several years. Some, of later
date, within the year, had evidently been sent secretly, for they were
rolled up into the smallest possible compass, in lead, and so that they
could be put into the mouth, or otherwise hidden; the handwriting was
disguised, and several were written in cypher; but the most recent were
not disguised at all, and the seals were perfect. The whole formed a
series, and they had hastily put them together. Each letter confirmed
the other, or seemed to do so, and yet, considering the issue at stake,
neither cared to trust their own judgment: and the papers needed
confirmation, as well of their authenticity as of their reference to
former occurrences and dates.
Of the Mahratta documents, however, they could form no opinion, as
neither could read the character; but the secretary was familiar with
the seal, and even the rude signature, of Sivaji Bhóslay; and these
letters might throw some light on the subject of reputed intrigues with
the Emperor, and prove a guide to future proceedings.
The two persons who had been summoned so hastily to the night council
were, in the first place, Peer Dustageer Khaderi, a holy Syud, or
descendant of the Prophet, of the purest lineage, and the head of a
religious house or establishment of Durwaysh, or, as we familiarly call
them, "Dervishes," which had been largely endowed by the State, and
for whose ancestors, buried in the precincts of the shrine, miracles
were now becoming ostensibly claimed. As a consequence, the holy
influence of the "Peer" was decidedly on the increase; and as he had
been chosen as religious instructor to the King, he was at that time
his "Moorshid," or spiritual guide; and being a shrewd, well-educated
person, possessed of deep local experience, and, from his position,
able to obtain information of a trustworthy nature, he was frequently
consulted. To give him due credit, the Peer had proved, on more than
one occasion, to have rendered valuable service. Him, therefore, had
the King named as the person best fitted to be intrusted with the
secret they had obtained.
The other was an old Brahmun, who entered leaning upon a long stick
with a gold head, yet not so as to evince weakness, and was as
remarkable in his degree as the person whom he accompanied. Neelkunt
Rai Pansay, in the outset of his life a humble Karkoon, or clerk, in
the revenue department of the State, had served, in succession, three
generations of its kings, and, at upwards of eighty years old, was
still clear-headed, astute, and faithful. He had risen to the rank
of "Peshcar," or finance minister, by his valuable services in that
department; and though an "infidel," as he was termed by the Peer, was
beloved and respected, and consulted on occasions of more than ordinary
solemnity or embarrassment, more particularly in regard to the affairs
of his own people, the Hindus of the kingdom.
While the secretary advanced to the King, the others stood at the
further end of the apartment. Neither knew why they had been summoned,
and the hour of the night, the, to them, strange fact of being together
in the most private apartment of the palace, and in the King's
presence, caused them to look at each other wonderingly.
These were not persons who could ever unite in private friendship; for
the Peer, a bigoted follower of Mahomed, and a holy saint to boot,
was one of those who, as warriors of the faith, would have led armies
against the infidels, and utterly exterminated them. That king of
Gulburgah, Feroze Shah, was in his eyes a true Moslem, and now surely
enjoying Paradise, who, in pursuance of his vow, had slain a hundred
thousand of the infidels of Beejanuggur, and made pyramids of their
heads at the gate of his city. If the kings of Beejapoor had been such
it would have been well; but, alas! in his eyes they were degenerate.
Here was a proof: the infidel minister sent for to confer with him! the
Syud! "Astagh-fur-Ulla!" (God forbid it!) gurgled in his throat, and
he edged away and gathered up his garments with a gesture decidedly
contemptuous.
This did not escape the old Brahmin's notice, but it was no time to
resent it, for they were called forward. A word from the secretary
had decided the King to have the Mahratta letters first examined.
Aroused from his sleep, and in the presence of a Brahmun, the Syud was
not likely to discuss any matter temperately with one; nor, indeed,
in a subject in which Mahomedan honour was involved, was it politic,
perhaps, to reveal particulars to a Hindu; but the fact or otherwise
of Sivaji Bhóslay's attachment or treachery so affected the Wuzeer's
position, that it could not be concealed from one who, whatever his
faults of religious arrogance might be, was at least a firm friend of
the young King and of his government.
"Salaam-o-alykoom! Khoosh amudeed! (you are welcome)," said the King,
using the Persian salutation to the Syud, and rising as he advanced.
"Salaam-o-alyk!" returned the holy man, advancing, as was his wont,
in a peculiar but characteristic manner; that is, he bent his head
forward, so as to assume a stoop which might be supposed reverential,
but which was, in fact, patronising in the extreme; stretching forth
his arms in an attitude of benediction, and, having set his feet nearly
at right angles, he shuffled with short steps towards the edge of the
carpet on which was the King's seat. "My lord's health is sound, and
his brain is clear?"
"I am well," returned the King; "be seated."
The Peer looked for a place as near the King as possible, and, with
another wave of his hands, settled himself upon his heels with two
motions--first, to drop on his knees, and second, to subside upon his
heels, very much after the fashion of a camel when it is to be loaded.
This done, he joined his hands together, and smiling blandly, again
ventured to ask whether "My lord and prince were well."
"By your favour and the mercy of God," replied the King, "I am well."
"Ul-humd-ul-illa! (Praise be to God!) Shookr! shookr! (thanks,
thanks!)" ejaculated the Peer devoutly, as he settled himself more
comfortably; then, taking his rosary from his waist, began to tell his
beads with great rapidity, as the old Brahmun, following to the edge
of the carpet, and making a humble and reverential salutation, stood
awaiting the King's pleasure.
"Be seated, Neelkunt Rai," said the King kindly; and as the old man
stooped to the ground, supporting himself by his stick, the secretary
compassionately put his hand under his arm, and let him down gently.
The scowl from the Peer at this unwonted act of courtesy was lost upon
the secretary, but not upon the old man himself; nor was his look of
thanks to the person who had assisted him unremarked by the Syud. "I
will watch them," he said inwardly: "these two seem to understand each
other."