human
Enough, cried the King at last,
gpt
My lord, said the old man, joining his hands,
human
Be careful, and do not transgress the bounds of propriety and respect,
gpt
Let him speak as he will, Syud, cried the King, hastily;
human
I fear no one, because I have no reason to do so, returned the old man simply, and looking steadily at the priest.
gpt
What I have to say is this: the disaffection of Sivaji Bhóslay may spread, but it has not yet become dangerous. That it will be so, if not checked, there is no doubt, for the whole Mahratta people are with him; and there are many signs among them that he will be great----
human
That he will be great?
gpt
My lord, interrupted the Syud,
human
I know all about that. Some of my disciples who live at a distance, have come to me from time to time lately, and told me of the damnable doings of the infidels; and how this Sivaji is supposed to have revelations from their gods; but they are but stones--they are but stones, and gold and silver. Now, what saith the blessed Prophet, on whom be peace, about such infidels?
gpt
Spare us, good Syud, returned the King, interrupting him gently,
human
Astagh-fur-oolla! No difference! cried the Syud.
gpt
Is it not written in the holy book, how they shall be burned in the fires of hell, and thou sayest there is no difference! Some one hath surely bewitched thee with sorcery, my son, and I will say exorcisms for thee--and----
human
Enough, returned the King, coldly;
gpt
The Syud is a holy man, said the old minister,
human
There is but one cure for it, if they are infidels, and that is the sword, murmured the Syud.
gpt
What saith----
human
We cannot suffer these interruptions,
gpt
Peace, Meer Sahib, whispered the Meerza, laying his hand on the other's arm, as he was about to rise.
human
Peace, and be still. In what will come afterwards we have need of thee--much need; be still.
gpt
My prince, said Neelkunt Rai, endeavouring to rise,
human
I have done what was needed, and beg leave to depart in peace. My King knows the worst. What his servant would advise will not now be listened to, were he even to speak.
gpt
Say on, cried the King, interrupting him;
human
But he will,
gpt
If he speaks no irreverence against the people of the true faith, he may talk till morning, said the Syud, with a wave of the hand.
human
I shall be dumb and deaf.
gpt
I have little to represent, my lord, replied the old man.
human
It is hard to say whether rebellion such as this, should be crushed or forgiven. If I should advise the former, can it be done? If the latter, I maybe suspected of partiality. Ah, my prince, if you gird up your loins to fight Sivaji, it will but be trying to grasp the wind; and your best troops will be taken into his mountains, leaving their places empty for the Moghuls to occupy, and that were a dangerous risk. No! send your royal 'kowl' to the Bhóslay--invite him here--ennoble him--treat him as your ancestors treated the Beyder chief of Suggur, and you will secure him. If a time of trial should ever come, which may the gods avert, the old Brahmun's words and cautions for the adoption of a merciful policy will not be forgotten. May I depart?
gpt
Yes, you have permission to depart, Neelkunt Rai, said the King, interrupting the Syud, who was about to speak angrily.
human
It is even as we suspected in regard to those letters, and the Bhóslay's treachery to the State. We would ask one thing more:--what force hath Sivaji in reality?
gpt
My prince, returned the Brahmun, rising and leaning on his staff,
human
No, no; I will have your opinion, interrupted the King.
gpt
Speak! what do your people, the Brahmuns, say about it?
human
May I be forgiven, my lord, if it prove untrue. Yet I will speak as I hear, replied the old man.
gpt
My prince knows that I am not of this country, nor of this people; I have no interest in them except as Hindus; but you may be assured there is not a Mahratta breathing who will not follow Sivaji, and the divine call he is believed to have received. No man who can wield a sword or carry a gun, or who has a horse to ride, that will not go to the places of meeting when--'the fire is on the hills.' How many there may be, the gods only know! Lakhs! lakhs! who can count them? Beware of them, my prince, and secure their chief ere it be too late.
human
What has passed here is secret, Neelkunt Rai, said the King.
gpt
Thou mayst go; we will send for thee again in this matter ere it be concluded,