‘How! wouldst thou return them?’
‘Return them! no, by your head and eyes, no! What, eat so much abomination! Darest thou trust me? I am your slave, there can be no fear. I have eaten your salt, I am the child of your house; command me, and I will do thine orders.’
‘What dost thou advise?’
‘For the boys? they are young, they are but women—nay worse. Why shouldst thou hesitate?’
‘Speak thy mind fully, Jaffar.’
‘Death!’ said the other in a hollow tone, as if he feared the very echo of the words.
‘Good,’ said the Sultaun, but his lip quivered as he spoke; ‘thou wilt require a warrant. Write one, I will seal it.’
‘I cannot write, O Sultaun.’
‘Pah! why are men such fools? Give me the inkstand. There, go now—even now. Let it be done silently, the people must not know of it. One by one—thou knowest, and spill no blood. Enough, begone! thou must return to-morrow by this time, I have more work for thee.’
‘On my head and eyes be it,’ he said, and departed from the tent.