1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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
195 A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR you again they have arranged a ring to do it, and the y will stick to their purpose like flies to a honey-dish until they have destro yed him.” “Yes, and then betray o ne another afterwards, when he is dead, that is their wa y. The y have been at it for years.” “Oh, nothing is surer than that, but I should not like to know who made that second copy, who got the chance of copying it. He must have kept it carelessly, to say the least of it. Or – he may have copied it himself, and sold the copy the English. He is a sly devil that. I daresay he got a good round sum for it.” “I don’t believe he ever did any such thing. He isn’t the man to do it,” the more sympathetic of the two said warmly. “But these police agents are clever enough to invent anything.” “Oh, clever enough, of course the y are, and if it doesn’t strike them, I’ll put them up to it. I like to see the fun. It’s the only life we have,” the other speaker said gaily. “Well, I don’t wish to see him hanged; he’s done many of us a good turn, and if I were he I would escape. I would not stay here to be caught like a rat in a hole.” CHAPTER XXXVII A RAT IN A HOLE
Page 1 and 2:
1 A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER - A TALE OF
Page 3 and 4:
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
11 A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER - A TALE O
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
101 A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER - A TALE
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144: 143 A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER - A TALE
Page 193: 193 A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER - A TALE
show all

1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?