“Others!” said Abdul Kadir, looking earnestly at the Prince. “Just so; you mean the kind of dangers caused by strangers. But what of those dangers, at present secret, but which may become open, and may find support in your own house, encouraged by those of your own race? If your son——”
“My son Salim!” exclaimed Akbar; “and yet,” he continued, “that is not impossible. Among the reigning houses around us, how many, through family feuds, have been subjected to our rule? And so you mean that Salim himself is ready to join these malcontents against me? for that appears to me what your words point to.”
“It is so, Sire,” answered Abdul Kadir; “at least, I mean that his religious zeal might induce him to do so; but I do not say that this is the case already.”
“One thing is certain,” rejoined Akbar, “if this should ever take place, religious zeal will not be Salim’s inducement. He cares far more for fine wines and beautiful women than for the Koran and the Prophet. But that is no reason that I should not thank you for the warning. If you had begun with it at first, many useless words might have been spared. If in the future you should have any more such communications to make, we will thank you for them. We must be a little on our guard, and keep a look-out on our people here. But, for the present, farewell.”
And, with a somewhat ironical smile on his lips, the Emperor left Abdul Kadir to think over the impression that his words might have made.
“By Allah,” muttered the follower of the Prophet between his teeth, “I have done a fine thing by naming Salim. I had only intended to disturb him, and so to render him more pliant to our will; instead of which I have simply warned him, and instead of helping, we shall now find him still harder to deal with. Now he knows or suspects that some of us league ourselves together with his son against him. You are looked upon as a wise man, Abdul Kadir, and yet you have acted like a fool. Ah! if the zeal that fills my soul for our holy faith would but preserve to me the calm that seldom or never forsakes Akbar! What an advantage that gives him over us!”
That the composure Akbar showed was as real as the other believed might well have been doubted by any one who had seen him returning to the palace, buried in thought, and with his eyes fixed on the ground.
In one of his private apartments a man awaited him, whose presence, if Abdul Kadir had but known it, would have given him fresh grounds for a violent outbreak. This was Kulluka the Brahman. He sat in thought, not noticing the splendour around him, nor the lovely view over the smiling gardens. Still, this was not the first time he had seen it.
Presently one of the Imperial Guard came to arouse him from his thoughts, and to conduct him to the Emperor.
“It is indeed a pleasure to see you here again,” said Akbar, affectionately returning the Brahman’s greeting, “and I hope you bring me good news from Kashmir.”