The Rajah passed into the inner chamber, and found his mother sitting
at the window alone, looking over the road which ascended to the
fort-gate. He prostrated himself before her, as was his wont, and,
sitting down opposite to her in silence, fell apparently into deep
thought. She did not interrupt him; but as the trumpet sounded, and
a salute of cannon was fired from the ramparts, and the Envoy's
procession passed out, and wound down the pass--she saw him following
the palankeen with his eyes, while his lips moved gently, as though he
spoke to himself. As it disappeared behind a shoulder of the mountain,
he turned to her and smiled.
"Mother," he said, "you saw the Khan's Envoy. I expected some stupid,
wrong-headed, supercilious Mussulman, but behold he has sent a Brahmun,
and with him a Mahratta, whom we should know, but no one recognizes
him. I think the Mother will give both to me, yet you said one only."
"My vision was but of one," she replied, "and it will be enough. Who is
the Mahratta?"
"They said his name was Bulwunt Rao, mother, but he did not mention his
surname, and no one knew it," returned the Rajah.
"It must be Bulwunt Rao Bhóslay, Tannajee's cousin," replied the lady.
"I know of no other Mahratta of good family in Beejapoor. He is a
relative of our own."
"Ah!" exclaimed her son, "yes, it must be he; and I have promised him
justice, mother; but what of Tannajee?"
"It cannot be, son," she said; "that is a blood feud, and blood only
will quench it. Tannajee did but revenge a murder, and you cannot
quarrel with him. Let it be; no good will come of it."
"Nevertheless I will try, mother; and if the Brahmun----"
"Fear not," she returned. "If he be a true Brahmun, the goddess hath
given him to thee. I will go to her. It is my hour for watching, and I
will pray her to guide thee."
Sivaji sat as before, looking out over the rugged mountain-side and the
pass, now glowing in the rich tints of an afternoon sun. If he could
only get Afzool Khan into his power, and hold him sure as a hostage,
he might make his own terms. Would the Brahmun aid him in this? A word
from him and the matter was secure. If he could only be persuaded to
write, a swift messenger might be sent to the camp, with one of his own
officers to guide on the army. Once the troops entered the defiles they
were at his mercy. There was no escape--the whole must surrender or be
slain; but he well knew the old Afghan would not agree to dishonour,
and to separate him from his force was therefore his chief anxiety. As
yet the temptation within him had assumed no more definite form; and in
respect to the final result, his mother, strange to say, was altogether
silent; but she had again taken up the position she had assumed before
the shrine for many days past, and his belief in her inspiration was
not to be shaken.
Late that night, muffled in a coarse blanket, and accompanied only
by the Brahmun before mentioned, and a few attendants, the Rajah
descended from the fort by a steep and rugged pathway, which led from
a postern directly to the town, and, leaving the men at the gate, they
passed rapidly on to the house where the Envoy had been located. It
belonged to the Josee or astrologer of the town, in whose science the
Rajah had much faith; and, as was usual with him on all occasions of
great enterprise, the aspects of the planets had been consulted, and
declared to be favourable at the hour at which they had purposely
timed their arrival. The Josee met them at the door. "The Pundit is
sitting within," he said, "reading, and there is no one with him. I
have prepared the writing materials, too, as directed, and they will be
brought if you call."
"Wait, then, in the outer court, friends," said the Rajah to his
attendants. "This must be done between us alone. Not even thou,
Krishnajee, must know what passes between us."
Punto Gopináth was sitting in the inner verandah of the second court of
the house, as the Josee had said, reading. He looked up as the old man
entered and said, "There is one here from the Rajah, who would speak
with you."
"Admit him," was the reply; and Sivaji could see as he entered, that
the Brahmun drew towards him a short, heavy dagger-sword, and placed it
so that the hilt lay close to his right hand. "Be seated, friend," said
the Envoy, "and tell thy business. What doth Sivaji Bhóslay desire of
me?"
The Rajah's face was tied up with a handkerchief, which partly
concealed his mouth and changed the tone of his voice, and he had
passed his hand, covered with white wood-ashes, across his nose, eyes,
and forehead, as he entered, which altered the expression of his eyes
very considerably. It was evident that he was not recognized.
"Sivaji Bhóslay desires the prosperity and advancement of Brahmuns,"
replied the Rajah, "and to enrich them is his sole care. He worships
them; and would fain have them as powerful as in the days of the
ancients, and in this desire thou canst assist."
"I assist! How, friend? I, a Brahmun, am a receiver, not a giver,--and
am only a servant to the unclean," he added with a sigh.
"It need not be so, Pundit. The fame of thy learning hath preceded
thee, and the Maharaja desires thy friendship and welfare. I am sent to
tell thee this."
"What can I do?" said the Envoy restlessly. "What would he have me do?
and who art thou to speak thus to me?"
"No matter who I am--I am authorized to speak," replied Sivaji. "Look,
here is his ring as my authority. 'Is he a Brahmun,' the Rajah said,
'and come with Moslem followers to sit in my Durbar? Alas, alas! that
such should be, that the pure and holy should serve the unclean. This
is indeed the age of iron, and of debasement.'"
The Brahmun writhed in his seat. "There are many besides me," he said,
"who serve the people of Islam."
"Who serve the destroyers of Toolja Máta, the defilers of her
temple, the slayers of Brahmuns, and of sacred kine everywhere! O,
shame--shame!" cried the Rajah eagerly.
"I was not at the shrine when the affray took place," said the Brahmun
apologetically. "I could not help it."
"Has then a Brahmun's holiness become so debased that he says only, I
could not help it?" returned the Rajah. "Is it pleasing to the Mother,
think you, that her people should fawn on those whose hands are red in
the blood of her votaries?"
"I would fling my service at the feet of Afzool Khan, and even of the
Sultan himself, could I but serve with Hindus as I desire to serve,"
exclaimed the Brahmun.
"The opportunity might be found, friend," answered the Rajah, "if it
were truly desired; but proof of fidelity would be required,--would it
be given? What is the Maharaja's desire? Dost thou know it?"
"I guess it," said the Brahmun, "for I am not easily deceived by
appearances, and I understood his looks to-day, if I mistake not. Could
I only speak with him? Canst thou take me to him?"
"I can tell thy message to him," replied the Rajah, "and will deliver
it faithfully. He chose me, else I had not dared to come."
The Envoy appeared to hesitate for a moment. "Impossible," he
said--"impossible that I could tell another, what Sivaji himself should
alone hear; it could not be."
"Dost thou know me, friend?" returned the Rajah, as he untied the
handkerchief which concealed his face, and with it wiped the white
ashes from his eyes and forehead--"dost thou know me? It is thus that
I salute a holy Brahmun;" and he rose and made a lowly reverence,
touching the feet of the Envoy respectfully.
The man strove to return it, but was prevented. "It cannot be,"
continued Sivaji; "here thou art a Brahmun, and I a Sudra. Let it be as
I wish. It is for thee to receive the honour, not I."
"What would you have me do, Maharaja?" replied the Envoy, now trembling
much. "I have done evil in helping the unclean, and would now expiate
it if possible."
"I have had many things in my mind, Pundit," replied the Rajah, "and
the Mother sends perplexing thoughts; but one thing is clear to me--she
must be avenged."
The man echoed the words--"She must be avenged."
"Yes," continued the Rajah, "day and night, by old and young,
rich and poor, man or woman, there is but one cry going up from
Maharástra--'Avenge the Mother!' and yet before that force we are
powerless."
"Where are the Mawullees? where are the Hetkurees we have heard of,
and the gallant Tannajee?" cried the Brahmun excitedly. "What art thou
doing, Sivaji Bhóslay? Men say of thee that thy mother holds thee back,
else 'the fire should be on the hills.'"
"Good!" returned Sivaji, smiling; "it is as I thought, and there is yet
a Brahmun who is true. What dost thou advise?"
"Hark!" said Gopináth, "come nearer. If I bring Afzool Khan and his men
within the defiles, will it content thee? If I do this, what wilt thou
do for me?"
"I have prepared for that already,--a Jahgeer, a high office, secular
or among the priesthood, as thou wilt,--double thy present pay,
whatever it be,--an ensign of rank, and--my friendship. Look, Pundit,"
cried the Rajah, springing closer to him, and drawing a small bright
knife from his breast, "it were easy to slay thee,--for my knee is on
thy weapon,--and so prevent my proposal being known: but it is not
needed. Fear not," he added, for the drops of sweat were standing on
the Brahmun's brow, under the terror he felt--"fear not! only be true,
and Sivaji Bhóslay will not fail thee. When he has a kingdom thou shalt
share its honour."
"Give me time to write," said the man, trembling under conviction of
his own treachery and the excess of temptation to which he was exposed;
"I will give the letter to-morrow."
"Impossible, Pundit," replied the Rajah: "the messengers are ready
without, and they will bear what must be written to the Khan."
"Who will take the letter?"
"The Brahmun who spoke for me this morning; he and some horsemen are
now ready."
"But to the Khan himself there must be no harm done," said the Pundit.
"To him and his son I owe many kindnesses: for the rest, as thou wilt.
Keep the family as hostages."
"As guests yonder," replied the Rajah; "he will be safe, he and
his. Shall I send for writing materials? Krishnajee! Sit there," he
continued, as his attendant entered; "see that what is written is
plain."
And the Envoy wrote in the Persian character, in which he was a
proficient, and which the other secretary understood:--
"I have seen the Rajah, his fort, and his people, and there is nothing
to apprehend. They are all beneath notice: but in order to settle
everything perfectly, and to inspire terror, my lord should advance
with all the force, according to the plan devised here, which the
bearer, one of the Rajah's secretaries, will explain personally, and
which would be tedious to write. In a strictly private interview, which
will be arranged, the Rajah Sivaji will throw himself at the feet
of the Envoy of the king of kings, and receive the pardon which he
desires. More would be beyond respect."
"It is enough," said Sivaji, when this writing was explained to
him--"it will have the desired effect. Take this letter, Krishnajee,
and set out for camp at once."
"Stay," added the Envoy, "let him accompany my messenger,--the Mahratta
officer who spoke so boldly to-day. It were better he went, and he
will not refuse duty. Enter that room and close the door, my lord,
while I send for him;" and he called to an attendant to summon Bulwunt
Rao.
It was not long ere he came in, flushed somewhat, as it seemed, with
drink. "Who is this?" he said.
"The Maharaja's Secretary, who will accompany thee to camp. Go at once,
if thou art fit, Bulwunt Rao; it is needful that Afzool Khan receive
this as soon as may be."
"I am ready, Maharaj, to ride up Pertâbgurh," he replied; "and he?"
"I attend you," said the Secretary; "come, we must leave this when the
moon rises;" and they went out together.
"Enough," said the Rajah, emerging from his concealment. "Generations
hereafter will record how Punto Gopináth served his prince. Fear
not--it will be well with thee and thine hereafter."