human
Does that Jogi understand Persian, thinkest thou?
gpt
Not a word, I will answer for it with my head, returned the man confidently.
human
How should he?
gpt
And thyself?
human
Surely, excellent sir; I have long served in the royal Dufter, else how should I have known what to take and what to leave?
gpt
If there were more, why didst thou not take all, Lalla?
human
All, Meerza Sahib? that the theft might be discovered before I had time to get away? Ah, no, good sir! A Mutsuddee may be a rogue, but he should have discretion, and he quoted the Persian proverb to that effect;
gpt
And thou knowest the contents of this letter, Lalla?
human
I could say them to you, for I have them by heart, noble sir; perhaps they are somewhat remarkable, for when I read them, I thought Ali Adil Shah would like to hear them, so I committed them to memory. I will even repeat the letter to you if this worthy Meerza have no objection. I presume, he continued to the Secretary,
gpt
Surely, was the reply.
human
I may say that he is more in it than I am myself, else I had not brought him.
gpt
Enough, said the Lalla;
human
I am satisfied. Now, open the letter and compare it with what I repeat. There is no Alkab.
gpt
True, said the King,
human
Ay, what need of more? sighed the young King.
gpt
Enough here--enough to prove the man's treachery, the least deserved that ever the false world saw. Yet, Meerza, there are still many true to the King: there are some suspected ones in the list that we know of, he continued, his eye running rapidly over it,
human
Yes, they are intimates, said the Secretary,
gpt
Then I have won my reward and my life!
human
Your life, surely, replied the Meerza;
gpt
But, my lord--noble sirs, cried the Lalla, in evident dread,
human
I forbid it. I forbid one paper or one of you passing hence this night till the money is paid,
gpt
And who art thou? demanded the Meerza, haughtily.
human
Peace! withdraw; this is no place for thee, or the like of thee.
gpt
Who am I? retorted the ruffian.
human
Who am I? One who has the right, as he has the power, to demand what he seeks. And as he spoke he snatched from beneath the heap of ashes before him the heavy sword he had kept concealed there, which flashed brightly in the firelight, and started to his feet, as did also his follower.
gpt
Stir not! he exclaimed to the King and Secretary, who had been too much startled by the sudden action to rise with the Jogi;
human
Drawing himself up to his majestic height, Pahar Singh laughed scornfully.
gpt
Ha, ha, ha! a boy and a penman against me! Ha, ha, ha! put up thy weapon, Maun Singh, there is no need of it.
human
Who art thou?
gpt
It concerns thee not, answered Pahar Singh.
human
Pay me the money promised on those papers--ten thousand good rupees--on this spot, or you pass not hence alive. Brother, he added to Maun Singh,