CHAPTER XXXIV.
The King spoke first, breaking a silence which, though only lasting fora few moments, seemed interminably oppressive.
"I have called you, Neelkunt Rai," he said, "to examine and read tome some papers which have come into my possession. There is no oneabout me from whom I can expect more true fidelity than from you in adelicate matter. Give him the papers, Meerza; they are before you."
"May my lord's favour and condescension increase," returned the oldman, bowing humbly. "I have never deceived the State, and am too old tobegin; and as the grandson is now, so were the father and grandfatheralways towards me; true confidence is rarely disappointed."
The King sighed. "Alas," he said, "would it were so! Read and judge foryourself."
Neelkunt Rai took the papers, cast his eyes over a few lines, put themdown, fumbled in his pockets for his spectacles, which finally werefound in a fold of his turban, put them on, and looked first at the endof the paper.
"The letters are from Sivaji Bhoslay, my lord. Doubtless some renewalof his former excesses, and his usual apologies for them. Shall I readthem."
"If that were all, Neelkunt Rai, we could forgive them," replied theKing; "but read; we may perhaps be in error about them, though trulyour vassal grows in power, and heeds not warnings or advice."
"It is only a few months since he took the four forts," interposedthe Meerza, "and the letters given to Afzool Khan mention that he isrepairing and putting grain into them, and that Pertabgurh, where helives, is now impregnable, and that----"
"Let him read, Meerza Sahib," said the Peer ironically: "one so highin the favour of the King should not be interrupted;" and he strokedhis beard gently with one hand, while the beads of his rosary passedrapidly through the fingers of the other, and his lips repeated theparticular invocation of the divinity which suited every bead. "Let himread; my lord is already listening."
Neelkunt Rai proceeded. He had been deceived by the address, whichwas that usually written to his own sovereign, and had read theletter through unsuspiciously; but as its purport became evident, itwas clear, by his change of countenance, that this was no ordinarycommunication, and after a while he stopped suddenly.
"It is not fit for my lord to hear," he said excitedly. "This istreason!"
"Be not afraid, Neelkunt Rai, we would know the worst," replied theKing.
"Yes, my lord should know who are true and who are false," added thePeer, pompously. "It is true wisdom!"
"As you will," returned the old man, bowing to the King, and notnoticing the Peer; "your servant is not responsible for what iswritten, and you must be patient with it;" and he read and translatedas he went on.
There could be no doubt that the treason was unmasked and unconcealed.The wrongs of his father, wrote Sivaji, who for four years had beenimprisoned in the dungeon of the citadel of Beejapoor, near thegate, called for revenge; the wrongs of the people, suffering underendless local oppression and exaction, called for redress, which itwas hopeless to expect at the hands of a boy, priest-ridden and underthe domination of bigoted and ignorant ministers. The conclusion wascharacteristic of the writer. All he desired was confirmation of hisancestral rights, and permission to serve, with his forces, in theimperial interest.
Letter after letter was read, all much to the same purpose; those ofthe latter dates being more particular, perhaps, than the former.
"Enough," cried the King at last, "we are weary of these details. Whatdost thou think, Neelkunt Rai?"
"My lord," said the old man, joining his hands, "mine are not the wordsof flattery; nor is my advice given without reason. I cannot controlmen's tongues, nor can I hinder the actions of such as Sivaji Bhoslay;nor yet am I a soldier, to estimate whether his means are proportionateto the end he proposes to attain. If I may speak, I will do so truly,and as one who is near death now; but my lord must not be offended,else I am silent."
"Be careful, and do not transgress the bounds of propriety andrespect," said the priest.
"Let him speak as he will, Syud," cried the King, hastily; "do notinterrupt him. Fear not, Neelkunt Rai."
"I fear no one, because I have no reason to do so," returned the oldman simply, and looking steadily at the priest. "What I have to say isthis: the disaffection of Sivaji Bhoslay may spread, but it has notyet become dangerous. That it will be so, if not checked, there is nodoubt, for the whole Mahratta people are with him; and there are manysigns among them that he will be great----"
"That he will be great?" echoed the King.
"My lord," interrupted the Syud, "I know all about that. Some of mydisciples who live at a distance, have come to me from time to timelately, and told me of the damnable doings of the infidels; and howthis Sivaji is supposed to have revelations from their gods; but theyare but stones--they are but stones, and gold and silver. Now, whatsaith the blessed Prophet, on whom be peace, about such infidels?"
"Spare us, good Syud," returned the King, interrupting him gently, "weknow the passages; but God hath seen fit to give our house subjects ofthis faith; and they are all our children--they--as well as the truebelievers. We can see no difference."
"Astagh-fur-oolla! No difference!" cried the Syud. "Is it not writtenin the holy book, how they shall be burned in the fires of hell, andthou sayest there is no difference! Some one hath surely bewitched theewith sorcery, my son, and I will say exorcisms for thee--and----"
"Enough," returned the King, coldly; "we have not time to waste indiscussion on such matters now. Proceed, Neelkunt Rai."
"The Syud is a holy man," said the old minister, "and he and his houseare venerated, and he should be merciful and considerate to all; butas he, too, hath heard the rumours in regard to Sivaji, my lord willbelieve them. And it would be well not to disregard them entirely. Apeople's enthusiasm is not to be trifled with."
"There is but one cure for it, if they are infidels, and that is thesword," murmured the Syud. "What saith----"
"We cannot suffer these interruptions," interposed the King, haughtily.
"Peace, Meer Sahib," whispered the Meerza, laying his hand on theother's arm, as he was about to rise. "Peace, and be still. In whatwill come afterwards we have need of thee--much need; be still."
"My prince," said Neelkunt Rai, endeavouring to rise, "I have done whatwas 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 evento speak."
"Say on," cried the King, interrupting him; "thou hast a right tospeak. Say on; we will not prevent thee."
"But he will," returned the Karkoon, pointing to the Syud.
"If he speaks no irreverence against the people of the true faith, hemay talk till morning," said the Syud, with a wave of the hand. "Ishall be dumb and deaf."
"I have little to represent, my lord," replied the old man. "It is hardto 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 maybesuspected of partiality. Ah, my prince, if you gird up your loins tofight Sivaji, it will but be trying to grasp the wind; and your besttroops will be taken into his mountains, leaving their places empty forthe Moghuls to occupy, and that were a dangerous risk. No! send yourroyal 'kowl' to the Bhoslay--invite him here--ennoble him--treat him asyour ancestors treated the Beyder chief of Suggur, and you will securehim. If a time of trial should ever come, which may the gods avert, theold Brahmun's words and cautions for the adoption of a merciful policywill not be forgotten. May I depart?"
"Yes, you have permission to depart, Neelkunt Rai," said the King,interrupting the Syud, who was about to speak angrily. "It is even aswe suspected in regard to those letters, and the Bhoslay's treacheryto the State. We would ask one thing more:--what force hath Sivaji inreality?"
"My prince," returned the Brahmun, rising and leaning on his staff,"what shall I say? Have you no reports? Were not letters given toAfzool Khan to read? Ask him; he knows that country better than Ido--far better. Ask the Syud what his disciples tell him
."
"No, no; I will have your opinion," interrupted the King. "Speak! whatdo your people, the Brahmuns, say about it?"
"May I be forgiven, my lord, if it prove untrue. Yet I will speak asI hear," replied the old man. "My prince knows that I am not of thiscountry, nor of this people; I have no interest in them except asHindus; but you may be assured there is not a Mahratta breathing whowill not follow Sivaji, and the divine call he is believed to havereceived. No man who can wield a sword or carry a gun, or who has ahorse to ride, that will not go to the places of meeting when--'thefire 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 securetheir chief ere it be too late."
"What has passed here is secret, Neelkunt Rai," said the King. "Thoumayst go; we will send for thee again in this matter ere it beconcluded," and with a deep reverence to the King, and salutations tothe others, the old man retreated a few paces backwards, then turned,and passed out of the chamber.
"Blessed be God and the Prophet!" exclaimed the Syud when he was gone."The air was defiled by his breath! Ul-humd-ul-illa! a Kafir and atraitor, may he----"
"Peace, Meer Sahib, we have dismissed him, and that is enough," saidthe King. "Our father, on whose memory be peace, trusted him, and sodid his father,--so also do we."
"As my prince pleases," returned the holy man, with a humble gesture,and checking the volley of curses he had prepared to hurl after the oldBrahmun. "In this matter it seemed to me that his counsel was cowardlyand dangerous. How say you, Meerza? Was Feroze Shah afraid of infidelswhen he and his true believers slew them by lakhs, and the pyramidsof heads stood by the gates of Gulburgah? And is our prince less thanhe was, or are these Mahratta Kafirs more powerful than those ofBeejanugger? Speak, man!"
"My opinion would be little worth," said the secretary, "even did mylord desire it, and there are others more capable of judging of thepower of this Mahratta robber than I am. What you have to advise ourmaster upon is another matter, Syud."
"Explain it to him, Meerza," said the King, sadly: "I am sick oftreachery, which seems to be closing round me like a net on all sides."
"God and the Prophet forbid!" exclaimed both in a breath. "Treacheryknown, is soon disposed of. That which sits crouching in hidden placesis alone to be dreaded," continued the Syud. "Ere I hear the detail, Ihave my fears."
"Nay, read thyself and judge," said the King. "Give him the letters,Meerza."
"I have compared the seals," said the secretary, "with those lettersrecently received by the King, and the writing also. Judge for yourselfbefore you read."
The Syud obeyed. He examined and compared the seals, thesuperscription, and the paper of all, with much care and evidentinterest, as expressed in various ejaculations of wonder, and appealsto the divinity under various appellations suited to the circumstances,which may be spared. "No doubt, no doubt," he said, after the scrutinyhad been concluded, "no doubt of these, nor of the superscription. Theyonly confirm what hath long been in men's mouths, yet was undetected."
"Read," said the King. "Satisfy yourself."
Tara: A Mahratta Tale Page 36
