He glanced towards Salim, who reclined on a divan with closed eyes, his arm hanging over the cushion, while a few paces from him lay his newly-filled goblet that had fallen from his hand and rolled on the carpet. Though Siddha did his best, he could not see Salim; or, if he did, it appeared to him there were two Salims; and without resisting he let his uncle lead him from the hall, and assist him into a palanquin which awaited them at the door; and after giving directions to the bearers, Salhana, who had certainly not drunk less than his nephew, turned, with a firm and steady tread, towards his dwelling. As he passed through one of the narrow streets he saw under the shadow of a house a tall thin figure, which, after looking cautiously around, left its hiding-place and approached him—it was Gorakh the Yogi.
“Does all go well?” he asked.
“Nothing could be better,” was the reply. “Our cause prospers; I cannot yet give particulars, but when I know more, and certainly in case we have need of you and your followers, you shall be warned at once.”
“And our young simpleton? keep your eye upon him, for I believe he has suspicions of our understanding. When he is once with us that will not signify. But tell me, is the bird in the trap?”
“Not yet,” answered Salhana; “but it will not be long before he is.”
Gorakh laughed, and the men parted, each going his own way.
[1] Alláhu Akbar, jalla jaláluhu: was the inscription on one side of Akbar’s rupee, and on the other the date.
[2] Jayadeva wrote the “Gita-Govinda,” a pastoral drama, in about the twelfth century of our era. It relates to the early life of Krishna, as Govinda the cowherd, and sings the loves of Krishna with Radha and other of the cowherd damsels. But a mystical interpretation has been put upon it. There are some translations in the “Asiatic Researches,” by Sir W. Jones. Mr. Griffith has translated a few stanzas into English. He says, “the exquisite melody of the verse can only be appreciated by those who can enjoy the original.” A translation of the “Gita-Govinda” of Jayadeva was also published by Mr. Edwin Arnold in 1875.
[3] Jasminum undulatum.