CHAPTER XXXV.
"It is finished, my lord," said the Syud, looking up, after anexamination of the papers which had appeared interminable, and ashe spoke, the cry of the Muezzin of the Royal Mosque arose in theinvitation to morning prayer, sonorous and musical, "Alla hu Akbur!Alla hu Akbur!" "It is finished," he continued, "and it is the willof Alla that morning prayer should come with the last words. Come, mylord, let us do this service, and ask a blessing on our deliberation.Come to the terrace in the fresh morning air."
We need not follow them. As they returned and seated themselves againby the oriel window, the first blush of dawn was stealing over thesky, paling the stars, and the gentle breeze of morning rustled softlyamong the leaves of the gardens below. The ceremony he had performed,the ablution, and the air of the terrace outside to which they hadadjourned, had refreshed the King after this weary night.
"Speak, Syud," he said, as they resumed their seats. "What is it to be?"
"I need not, my lord," replied the Syud. "What Alla hath put into thyheart I now see in thine eyes, and so be it! Ameen! ameen! ameen! It ishis destiny. He is not fit to live; let him die, perjured and faithlessas he is. My lord, he had sworn on the holy book to me to be true. Hehad touched my feet and my neck as witness to his oath. Yet see, sincethen, nay, within a few weeks, this letter--worst of all--was written.But O, my prince! there must be no mistake. Even at the last, let notthe blood of a guiltless man be on our heads."
The Syud's resolution had wavered for a moment, but was rallied by thesecretary as the King shook his head, but did not reply.
"Meer Sahib," he said, "we have had the same doubts, my lord and I.Considering how we obtained the letters, can there be uncertainty?"
"God forbid!" replied the Syud--"God forbid! it is enough. I see inthis revelation the hand of the All-wise, and we, his creatures, shouldnot resist His destinies and His justice. We cannot do so even if wewished," and he bowed his head reverently over his beads. "Hark! whatis that?"
"Ulla dilaya to leonga! Ulla dilaya to leonga! (If God give I willtake! If God give I will take)" was suddenly shouted in an outer courtof the palace by a powerful voice, and interrupted the priest for amoment.
"Listen!" he continued, grasping the Meerza's arm. "What is that cry,so strange, and so early?"
"It is but one of the city beggars," said the King, looking across tohis secretary with a peculiar glance of intelligence, "who perhaps hasnot slept off his night's potions. One of thine own disciples, perhaps,Huzrut."
"I will go and listen," said the secretary, rising; and he proceeded tothe terrace where the morning prayer had been performed.
"Ulla dilaya to leonga!" arose in clear deep tones, now unchecked bythe heavy quilted curtain of the royal chamber. It was a common form ofcry of fakeers or other beggars; but there was something in the roughtone of the voice which seemed to strike familiarly upon the Meerza'sear.
"Ulla dilaya to leonga!"
The last cry was followed by a remonstrance from the soldiers below,who, belonging to the guard of the private apartments, had evidentlystopped the intruder.
"Gently, O Syn," cried one; "what dost thou here so early? Do not bawlso loud, friend, else they will be awakened up yonder, and thou wilt bewhipped and put in the stocks. Come and sit here, and rest thyself ifthou wilt."
"Ulla dilaya to leonga!" was the only reply.
"Nay, but thou canst not enter here, Syn. This is the private court ofthe Hareem, and thou must be silent," continued the soldier.
"Ulla dilaya to leonga!"
"The fellow is mad or drunk. Here, Jemadar," cried another voice; "whatis to be done with this Fakeer?"
"Who can this be?" thought the Meerza. "This is no common cry. I mustsee the worthy Syud out, and get speech of the crier."
"Ulla dilaya----"
The Fakeer's cry was broken off abruptly, and there was a noise asif of a scuffle below. Could it be any one in the Wuzeer's interest,seeking for information, or perhaps with deadly intent. "Ho there!"cried the secretary; "what noise is that so early, disturbing the King?"
"Some drunken Fakeer, my lord," returned one of the guards, looking up,"who has intruded, God knows how."
"Keep him, and I will come down presently," answered the Meerza, notwaiting for the reply, but re-entering the chamber.
"Some Fakeer, my lord," he continued to the King, but answering hislook of intelligence, "whom I have ordered to be confined till theDarogah of the palace can deal with him for his insolence."
"If he be one of my men come after me," said the Syud, "he shall bepunished. And now, my lord, have I permission to depart? Delay not inthis matter; and may God give you a safe deliverance from a traitor!"
"You may go, Meer Sahib," said the King; "and we thank you for thisvisit; but shall need you at noon."
"Your servant will be present without fail," returned the Syud, humbly."Would that his power were equal to his devotion in the King's service!"
"Return directly," said the King, in a whisper, to his secretary, asthe holy man waddled slowly to the door. "I know who it is; bring himhither at once. Hast thou forgotten the Jogi of the temple?"
"Hither? that fearful man!"
"Yes, and at once--any excuse--say he does exorcism--anything."
The secretary hesitated.
"At once," continued the King, positively, "and without fail. I fearedhim not then, when I was in his power and helpless, neither do I now.Go, take this with thee," and he slipped his signet ring into theMeerza's hand.
"I will have him searched at any rate," thought the Meerza, as hedescended the narrow stair. "Take care, Meer Sahib, the light isuncertain. Ah, here we are. Who is that, Abdulla, that was crying out?"he said to a eunuch, who, with others, kept guard at the foot of thestairs.
"I know not, my lord. He is some drunken Fakeer, no doubt; and theyhave tied him up, I hear."
"He may be wanted above," whispered the Meerza. "Let him followme, and without notice or hindrance. Some exorcism is needed--youunderstand--within----"
The man stared, and only bowed assent over his crossed arms. "Who daredquestion royal secrets?"
"Coming, Meer Sahib; I only looked for my shoes," cried the Meerza tohis companion, who had advanced a few paces.
Hearing the secretary's voice, several persons emerged from theguard-room, holding the Fakeer tightly. His face was distinctly seen inthe morning light, and there could be no mistake.
"He is not one of my children," said the Syud, blandly, looking at theman, and seating himself in his palankeen, which had been brought up;"some drunken brawler, no doubt, who deserves a whipping. Send him tothe Kotwal, my sons. I am departing, Meerza Sahib."
"Khoda Hafiz! (God be with you!)" returned the secretary. "At noon, youremember!"
"Of course, Meerza Sahib, the royal commands are on my head and eyes.Go on, my sons," and the bearers shuffled along at their usual pace.
"Shookr Oolla! (thank God!)" ejaculated the secretary, who had doubtsof the priest, as he had of most others. "Who art thou, fellow?" headded to the prisoner.
"Bid them loose me," said Pahar Singh, for it was he, "and I will tellthee. Hast thou forgotten so quickly?"
"My lord," said one of the soldiers, "let us turn him out into thetown."
"How he got in here," added another, "no one knows; yet he is notdrunk, and he has done no harm beyond bawling and struggling. He hasthe strength of a fiend."
"Loose him, my friends; he is an exorcist, and there has been sometrouble within," replied the secretary. "I must take him into thepresence. He has no arms? Behold the royal seal."
"I have the amulet which shall restore health to the sick," growled thepretended Fakeer; "it is sorely needed, and time presses. The planetaryconjunction is passing."
"Come, Syn; I will lead thee in," said the secretary, taking his hand.
"He has no weapons--we searched him well; but he will answer noquestions," said several men, speaking together.
"Ah, my friends," replied the secreta
ry, gravely, "those who cast outevil spirits are not to be questioned. Come, Syn, follow me."
The men shrugged their shoulders incredulously. What could it mean?To all except the Meerza the entry of such a character to the privateapartments at any hour would have been impossible--but now, and underthe King's seal? How had he entered the citadel? The guard at the gatehad not seen him pass; and this mystery, with the fact of his havingbeen expected, furnished plentiful cause of speculation to those whohad seized him.
Tara: A Mahratta Tale Page 37