"His wife and daughter are with the Bégum Sahiba. Read that, and you will know why," answered the man firmly.
"Can it be true?" asked the King of the Peer, opening the note. "Ya Khubeer, O!" he continued, after a pause: "this is wonderful! wonderful! O friends! and yet we had suspected our noble friend. But he is true; see, here is our royal signet to this; no doubt, no doubt."
"What is it?" cried both the Peer and the Secretary in a breath, seeing the King much excited.
"Afzool Khan and his son are imprisoned at the Kótwallee, and prevented from attending. They must be brought instantly."
"Imprisoned?" cried both together.
"Yes, friends," continued the King, "there is treachery in this, for Jehándar Beg and the Wuzeer are one, it is clear now, and we must act at once. Ismail Khan," continued he firmly, to an officer who stood behind him clothed in a shirt of mail, "go thou with two hundred of the royal guard, and some of the mirdhas, bring Jehándar Beg to the presence, and with him Afzool Khan and his son."
"I beg to petition," said the eunuch, "that some of Afzool Khan's Paigah are here, who came with their mistress; they might as well go, if I might send them."
"Of course," replied the King, "why not send the whole Paigah?"
"Excellent," said the Peer; "take what are here with thee, Ismail Khan, at once, and send for the rest. Raheem Khan will not fail thee."