1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

194
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
most moderate of us cannot restrain ourselves. Go home and rest, or
rather, no, stay, I am sending for my food. You must be refreshed
before you go. I shall inquire into this case. Your enemies shall not go
unpunished.”
The Chief Secretary bowed low. Something of his usual melancholy
had settled on him again.
“First, let me give thanks to my God, who alone can deliver me,” he
said reverently, and passing from the presence chamber where he had
been the object of so much interest and excitement, he entered a sm all
apartment often used as a writing-room by the Princes and certain
officials of importance. It was a bright little room at the corner of the
house, one window facing the entrance gate, the other looking into the
prettiest part of the flower garden, wher e there were seats and benches
for the comfort and convenience of the pages and courtiers.
“Ho! Nabi Khan, bring me some shawl or carpet to pray on, and some
water for my woozoo,” he called to one of his servants sitting in the
sun just by the entrance, waiting for his master to reappear.
The summons was instantly obeyed, and long did the Chief Secretary
remain rapt in his devotions, sitting on his heel on the carpet spread for
the purpose, his hands held out before him in earnest supplication. The
sound of voices came through the window, voices that came and passed
on. He heeded them not, but prayed on. He asked his God for no
special temporal blessing, only for light, and guidance, and strength for
whatever la y before him.
Suddenly, however, his attention was arrested. Two boys (he knew
exactly who the y were) had evidently occupied the seat immediately
below the window, and were discussing the event of the afternoon.
“That was a fine appeal,” one was saying; “I must say I thought the
Chief Secretar y spoke well, and what he said was true.”
“Yes, and he looked well too, and that has something to do with his
getting off so easily. You know how influenced the Ameer is by looks,
but what he said was no defence. He has averted the evil day for the
moment, but it is a mere delay. They have made a ring from which he
cannot escape in the long run. He’s bound to fall, and then what is
there for him? The gallows or a prison, which, to my mind, is worse.”
“There are some others that will ornament the gallows before he does,
though, I fancy,” the other replied warmly. “This case is going to be
sifted to the bottom. I heard the Ameer say so, and you know what that
means.”
“Oh, I daresay we shall see the executioner busy, but others being
hanged first won’t save him. He’s bound to fall sooner or later. I tell