The Moghul Part 91

That is the truth."

"The truth from you is not always easy to obtain, Inglish. Your deceptions have distressed me very much. And, curiously enough. Her Majesty even more. There is no fleet, Inglish. Instead there are lies, by you and, I'm beginning to suspect now, by my own son. I no longer have any idea what he is doing in the south. But I fear his arrogance has brought ruin to his army. I am recalling him to Agra, immediately, for an inquiry, and I am hereby ordering you to leave India."

Hawksworth noticed Nadir Sharif shoot a troubled glance toward the Jesuits.

"May it please Your Majesty, neither I nor my king have had anything to do with the reports of the fleet, whether true or false. There will be other voyages and soon. My king has promised it, and he is a sovereign who honors his word."

"Your Inglish king posts a conspirator and a traitor to my court. He will never have a _firman _from my hand, no matter how many voyages he may send."

"If there is indeed no fleet now, then I agree Your Majesty has been deceived. But I have been also. We have both been used by those around us, for purposes unknown. But my king would not knowingly play false with Your Majesty. Nor would I. Those who would deceive you, whoever they may be, sit much closer to Your Majesty's throne."

"It is not your place, Inglish, to tell me mine is a court of liars.

Your forgeries in India are ended. You will be gone from Agra within the week, or I will not answer for your life. After that you no longer may use the t.i.tle of amba.s.sador. You will be treated as the conspirator you are. And as of this moment you are stripped of your t.i.tle of khan."

He motioned to the Rajput guards. "Take him away."

Hawksworth turned to see Father Sarmento beaming.

"Alas it seems we soon must part, Amba.s.sador. May G.o.d in His mercy grant you a pleasant and speedy journey. Should you wish to travel through Goa, I can give you a letter to His Excellency, Miguel Vaijantes, requesting safe pa.s.sage on a westbound galleon."

"d.a.m.n your Viceroy." As Hawksworth turned back toward Arangbar, he felt rough hands close about his arms. Before he could speak, he was being guided through the rear doorway and into the long gallery leading to the public square.

"Majesty." Nadir Sharif watched the curtains close behind

Hawksworth, then rose and moved closer to the throne. "May it please you, the Englishman unfortunately remains my guest. At least for a few more days. As his host I feel a trifling obligation to see he finds his way home safely. I ask leave to excuse myself for a few moments to ensure he finds a palanquin."

"As you wish." Arangbar was watching a eunuch bring in a box of opium.

When Nadir Sharif moved toward the doorway, Father Pinheiro rose un.o.btrusively and slipped out behind him. As the Jesuit moved into the hallway, he appeared not to hurry, but his brisk walk brought him alongside the prime minister midway down the corridor.

"Have you told Her Majesty, as we agreed?"

"Told her what?" Nadir Sharif did not break his pace or remove his eyes from Hawksworth, still being led by the guards several yards ahead.

"About the s.h.i.+p that would be seized."

Nadir Sharif stopped as though hit by an arrow. "But surely you'll not take the vessel now! Didn't you see that the Englishman has been ordered out of Agra? He's finished. There'll certainly be no trading _firman _for him now, or ever."

"But the wars.h.i.+ps were dispatched from Surat day before yesterday, just before the pigeons arrived from Goa with the word of the hoax. His Excellency, Miguel Vaijantes', message revoking their order to sail arrived a day too late. They were already at sea. The Indian s.h.i.+p may have already been seized."

Nadir Sharif inspected him with astonishment. "Your Viceroy must be mad. To take the vessel now? There's no purpose in it. His Majesty will be most annoyed."

"But you were the one who suggested it!" The Jesuit's voice rose, quivering in dismay. "You said that bold measures were for bold men.

Those were your words. His Excellency agreed it would be a decisive stroke of firmness."

"And what does Father Sarmento think of this folly?"

"Father Sarmento does not yet know. I thought it best not to inform him." Pinheiro's eyes were despairing. "What did Her Majesty, Queen Janahara, say about the plan?"

"What do you mean?"

"We agreed you would tell her."

"I've not forgotten our agreement. I've been watching carefully for the right moment."

"She does not even know!" Pinheiro seized his arm and stared at him incredulously. "But I told His Excellency you would-"

"I planned to tell her any day. The time was approaching. But now, given what has happened . . ." Then he smiled and touched the Jesuit's arm lightly. "But I think she can still bring reason to His Majesty. It can all be readily explained as a misunderstanding."

"But you must tell her immediately." Pinheiro's shock was growing. "If she hears of it before you've explained, she'll think --"

"Of course. But there's no reason yet for concern." Nadir Sharif smiled again. "I a.s.sure you it all can be handled very routinely. But please tell His Excellency, Miguel Vaijantes, not to do anything else this ill-advised for at least a week. I can only excuse so much at one time."

As Nadir Sharif turned to continue down the corridor, Pinheiro reached out and seized his arm again. "You must also do one other thing. You must make sure the Englishman is removed from Agra immediately. We both know His Majesty may well forget by tomorrow that he has ordered him gone."

"This time I doubt very much His Majesty will forget. It will only be a matter of days, in any case." Nadir Sharif turned and smiled. "And remember what I told you, that as far as His Majesty is concerned, I know nothing about your Viceroy's impetuous act. But I do advise you to inform Father Sarmento, before he hears it in open _durbar_."

"He'll be furious. He'll probably order me back to Goa."

"I doubt it. I'm sure he knows your value here." Nadir Sharif turned without another word and hurried on down the corridor.

Ahead of him Hawksworth was being led by the guards through the marble archways. As they reached the end, facing the doorway leading to the courtyard stairs, he turned one last time and stared back, seeing Nadir Sharif for the first time.

"What do you want now? My money or my life? Or both?"

"I merely came to see you safely home, Amba.s.sador." Nadir Sharif waved the guards back toward the _Diwan-i-Khas_, and they bowed with relief as they turned to retreat. "And to offer my condolences."

"And no doubt to cozen me as well. I intend to find out who played me false. Even if it's Jadar. Somebody has h.e.l.l to pay."

"That would be most unwise, Amba.s.sador. I'm afraid we were all a bit too credulous. I readily confess even I had begun to believe your story."

"It wasn't 'my story'! I knew nothing about . . ."

"But you never denied it, Amba.s.sador. Surely you knew the truth all along. The truth is always wisest. That's my cardinal rule in life."

"But it could have been true. It was entirely possible. Why didn't you explain that to Arangbar? You're still supposed to be my agent."

"That would be rather difficult for His Majesty to believe, given what really happened. But I do suppose it's possible." Nadir Sharif patted Hawksworth's shoulder. "I'll see if there's anything I can do. But in the meantime, I suggest you begin preparations to leave. His Majesty was unusually disturbed tonight."

"He's disturbed over a lot of things, most of which have little to do with me."

"If you mean the matter of the prince, I a.s.sure you it's alarming to us all. No one is certain what has happened in the south. In fact, you were one of the last men to see Prince Jadar. He seems almost to have disappeared. All sorts of rumors are working their way to the court.

Where it will end no one can any longer even guess." Nadir Sharif followed Hawksworth out into the open square of the _Diwan-i-Am_.

"Incidentally, Amba.s.sador, did you yourself know anything about the fifty lakhs of silver coin spoken of tonight?"

Hawksworth examined him a moment. "Maybe the Shahbandar stole it all."

"That's hardly an answer, Amba.s.sador. It wasn't, by any chance, traveling with you from Surat to Burhanpur? You know, His Majesty has demanded a full investigation. I think he may just summon Mirza Nuruddin to Agra for an explanation."

"Then let him ask Mirza Nuruddin what happened. I'm sure he'll get the truth." Hawksworth turned toward the large gate at the far end of the square.