"Then I give my life," he said quietly, but his voice rang strong and firm; for he had come straight from his interview with Mahâm and her words had roused every atom of his marvellous vitality.
"Yea! I give my life--for sure there is naught that a man can hold more precious."
Absolute surprise kept his hearers silent for a moment. The very suggestion in one so instinct with life, made it incredible; then dismay came to some faces, disappointment to others.
"Your Majesty!" began his faithful servant, the Wazîr swiftly--"Our Emperor's life is too precious--"
"Naught is too precious, friend, to save Humâyon!" came the equally swift reply.
"Yea! the Wazîr is right," palpitated one who saw money slipping through his fingers. "Some lesser thing, yet still supreme, might be found. What of the Great Diamond--"
"No stone can outweigh my son's life. No! I offer myself to God--it is all I have." The strong voice rang firmer than ever.
"But the offering must be dear to both parties," put in a pompous voice. "And since, by the generosity of the Emperor, the diamond in question--whose value represents they say one day's revenue of the habitable world--was bestowed upon the Prince Humâyon, it fits in double manner the circumstances--"
Babar turned in quick reproof and scorn to the speaker. "Knowest thou so little of love, friend? Lo! I am dearer to my son than many diamonds. Could he speak now--" Babar's voice almost broke--"he would say, 'I am not worth the price of thy life, my father, for it is all the world to me.' But he cannot speak! He is in the grip of Death, so I have my say!"
And he flung out his right arm as he had been used to fling it out when leading on his soldiers to some desperate charge--"Come! gentlemen," he said, command in every word, "let us lose no more time. It is precious. I will give my all--may God be merciful!"