The man came, trembling in every joint, and prostrated himself before our leader. "What is thy name?" he asked.
"Syud Ebrahim," said the fellow.
"And what service didst thou perform to Ghuffoor Khan?"
"I am a Khidmutgar, O Asylum of the World!" said the man; "I used to keep the Khan's clothes, assist him to bathe, and attend him at night. I was always about his person."
"Now speak the truth, Ebrahim, and fear not. But I swear by the beard of the Prophet, if I detect thee lying, I will have thee cut to pieces before my face, as a warning to thy comrades."
"May I be your sacrifice!" cried the man, "I will not lie. Why should I? What I know is easily told, and 'tis but little."
"Proceed," cried Cheetoo, "and remember what I have said."
"Alla is my witness," said the man, "I know but little. My noble master came from your highness's durbar late in the afternoon. We had prepared dinner for him, but he said he was ill, and would not eat, and that we ourselves might eat what we had cooked for him. He then went into his tent, took off his durbar dress, put away his arms, and then lay down. I was with him till this time, and sat down to shampoo him, but he bade me begone, and I left him. I was weary with running all day by his side, and I also lay down, and did not wake till the people roused me for the march. I went into the tent to arouse him and give him his clothes, but I found him not. The bedding was just as when he had lain down, but his sword was not there, nor a stick he always walked with. This is all I know, but Shekh Qadir knows something more, if you will call him; he saw the Khan after I did."
Shekh Qadir was accordingly sent for, and after being cautioned and threatened as the other had been, he spoke as follows:
"I am also a Khidmutgar, but my office was not about the Khan's person; I used to give him his hooka, and prepare the opium he ate. Soon after dusk I heard him moving in the tent, and I watched him; he lifted up the back part of it and came out. I saw him walk towards the middle of the camp, and followed him; he observed me, and turned round sharp upon me: 'What,' said he, 'cannot I walk out for a few yards, to breathe the air, without some of you rascals following me? Begone!' Nuwab, I was frightened lest he should order me the korla, and I went away to the tent of a friend. I heard in the morning that he had not returned."