human
Shabash! cried the chief.
gpt
Well done, that was never learned in the jungle. Now speak truly, and at once, who art thou?
human
Noble sir, returned the Lalla,
gpt
I claim your protection. There has been a mistake about my treatment. My property has been taken, and I have been misused----
human
I misuse thee, knave? cried Pahar Singh, his brow darkening;
gpt
Beware, Lallajee, said Gopal Singh;
human
Peace, boy! interrupted the chief angrily;
gpt
My lord, my lord! cried the Lalla piteously;
human
What business, Lalla?
gpt
My lord, we are merchants, and have dealings with people there for clothes and jewels. There is a dispute about the accounts, and I have come to settle them,
human
Who are the merchants?
gpt
The Gosais of the Mutt at Kullianee, where I was yesterday; they sent me on,
human
O, hear! cried Gopal Singh;
gpt
Thou art no merchant, dog, exclaimed Pahar Singh.
human
Did ever merchant make an obeisance like that? Ah, we are true testers of gold here; the true and the false are soon found out. Who art thou? speak truly, and fear not.
gpt
By the shrine at Muttra, by the Holy Mother, I am what I say, a poor Khayet, a Mutsuddee only. O noble sirs, continued the Lalla,
human
I beg to petition, interposed Lukshmun, joining his hands,
gpt
Silence! roared the chief;
human
I have told you, noble sir. Thakoor Das, Preym Das is the name of the firm; my name is Toolsee Das--Lalla Toolsee Das, your slave to command. Ask at Kullianee, and the house will be known there. I--I--am a poor man--a stranger; who knows me?
gpt
A fool, a liar art thou, throwing away life, returned Gopal Singh.
human
This is the second time I have warned thee. We know thou art from the royal camp, and a spy to Beejapoor. Speak, else----
gpt
And the doom of a spy is death; and thou art a liar too, and a coward to boot. Look at him now, Gopala, said his uncle, interrupting and pointing to the man;
human
I am c-o-o-ld--c-o-o-o-ld, he said faintly;
gpt
Thou art cold! then we will warm thee, cried the chief grimly.
human
Yet, speak, O Lalla, ere I give the order. We would not hurt thee without cause--otherwise----
gpt
Ai Narayun! Ai Rámchunder! believe me, I am no spy. I swear by God I am no spy,
human
Bind him! cried the chief furiously.
gpt
A liar and a spy. Make torches of his fingers! we will soon hear the truth.
human
I told you, Lallajee, he said,
gpt
Silence, knave! thou art over-familiar, cried Maun Singh;
human
Nay, but if I can save him from the torches, uncle, returned the hunchback, with a grotesque grin,
gpt
Is it ready?
human
Quite ready, my lord, answered Lukshmun, taking one of the lighted wicks from the large lamp between his finger and thumb,
gpt
For your life, speak, good fellow, he said earnestly and under his breath to the Lalla,
human
O, my lord! my lord! shrieked the Lalla, now comprehending what was intended, and throwing himself prostrate on the ground,
gpt
Very well, returned the chief, on whose lips the ominous foam speckles were now visible.
human
Very well, get up; it is thine own business. Thou hast not heard of our Dekhan customs, perhaps, else I had not wasted words on thee. Speak, who sent thee? Alumgeer? He cannot help thee now.
gpt
He would have no mercy on me if he knew--if he had me in his power, murmured the Lalla.
human
Loose me, my lord, I am faint, and cannot speak; yet I will speak the truth. And should all these hear? My lord knows best. Loose me, and have these rags taken from my fingers.
gpt
When thou hast told the truth, Lalla; not till then, said Pahar Singh, slowly.
human
Dost thou hear? Away, all of ye! he cried to the attendants, who had crowded round the Lalla.
gpt
Keep the torch alight. Now, Lalla, he continued, as the man stood alone below the dais,
human
Beware! added Gopal Singh,
gpt
I would not be as thou art with that lying tongue of thine--ugh! no, not for lakhs. Remember that he, my uncle, never relents.
human
I would rather speak to ye alone,
gpt
We three are as one. Yet stay, added the chief.
human
Go thou, Amrut Rao, let him have his own chance for life--but remain without.
gpt
Do any of ye know the seal of the Wuzeer of Beejapoor, said the Lalla, when they were alone,
human
Nay, but Sivaji cannot write, Lalla. This is some fool's story. Beware, too, how thou takest the name of my lord the Wuzeer,
gpt
My lord, my lord, with death before me and one chance for life, I cannot lie, returned the Lalla, sadly shaking his head.
human
My hands are tied; but if one of you will open that bag, there will be truth enough found in it to save me. There, Jemadar, he continued, as Gopal Singh opened the bag,
gpt
It is the Wuzeer's seal, his private seal, uncle, said Gopal Singh excitedly.
human
Of this there is no doubt; look at it yourself.
gpt
Ai Ram! Ai Seeta Ram! what have we here? It is the seal truly,
human
Do any of ye read Persian? asked the Lalla;
gpt
I will try, uncle, said Gopal Singh;
human
he continued, breaking the silence, and after his eye had glanced over a few lines,
gpt
I would rather go into the thickest fight than read treachery like this. Narayun, keep us!
human
Ay, may the gods be merciful, Gopala! But what is it?--what is it?
gpt
He would sell our kingdom of Beejapoor to the Padshah of Delhi, uncle----
human
People said so--people said so, said Pahar Singh, interrupting;
gpt
Nay, the style is too courtly for me to make much of it, but both the letters are to the same effect. Where didst thou get these letters, Lalla?
human
Noble gentlemen, if ye are true to your King's salt, exclaimed the Lalla, seeing that he had made an impression on his hearers,