human
Well, said Jehándar Beg,
gpt
Good or bad, I know not, my lord, replied the man;
human
Indeed!--say on, friend,
gpt
My lord the secretary, said the man calmly,
human
Anything more?
gpt
Some money was taken, added the man.
human
That is all I know, except that a Durbar is ordered after the mid-day prayer.
gpt
Thou must go and find out who was with the secretary,
human
If I might speak, said the spy timidly, looking about him--
gpt
I think it was-- and he advanced and whispered in the Kótwal's ear--
human
The King? Impossible; he never left the palace, returned the Kótwal, aloud.
gpt
I know that he did not. The King?----
human
My lord cannot be mistaken, replied the spy, deferentially.
gpt
Nevertheless, I heard it----
human
Quite impossible! He could not have gone without my knowing of it, Mahmood; nor dare he venture out without being attended. Who were with the secretary?
gpt
Bundagee Sahib, and five others only; and the man who went with the secretary entered the private apartments with him when they returned. This I saw, for I was watching.
human
Thou shouldst have gone into the court with them, said the Kótwal.
gpt
What neglect is this?
human
I was going, but the guard stopped me, said the spy, as if ashamed.
gpt
They knew me, and turned me out of the fort-gate. What could I do? Since the last time I was drunk, they will not admit me.
human
And the Fakeer?
gpt
I heard him calling inside, 'Ulla dilâyâ to léonga;' and when he got outside he ran, still shouting, towards the Goruk Imlee trees, and I lost sight of him.
human
Then who told you he went into the palace?
gpt
O, the men on guard said one of the ladies had seen demons, and that the Syn had been sent for, to say incantations over her.
human
Very likely, said the Kótwal, calmly.
gpt
Now go and bring me the news I want. Was it the King who went with the Meerza, or his own son? Find this out for me, and return directly.
human
Jo hookum! returned the spy,