The moghul, p.35
The Moghul, page 35
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"Ambassador Hawksworth, His Majesty has asked me to ensure youare wanting in nothing while you wait." Nadir Sharif was standing onthe wide marble balcony when Hawksworth emerged from the stairs thatled upward from the _Diwan-i-Am_ to the interior courtyard of thepalace. He salaamed with practiced dignity even as his darting eyesassessed Hawksworth in a quick sweep. "As prime minister for HisMajesty it is my duty, indeed my pleasure, to attend your comfort andacquaint you with our protocol."
"I thank you on behalf of His Majesty, King James." Hawksworthawkwardly tried to salaam in return, careful not to bend as low as theprime minister.
"Perhaps I can begin by acquainting you with the palace." He gesturedtoward the open courtyard, where workmen thronged installing marblefountains, and the rest of the encircling second-story balcony. "Thestalls below us are where the wives of merchants sometimes come tooffer finery to the women of the _zenana_. Now they are being readiedfor His Majesty's birthday celebration. And there, across the way"--hepointed to a massive silk canopy covering a pavilion opposite thesquare, on the riverside of the palace-- "is the _Diwan-i-Khas_, whereHis Majesty holds his evening gatherings. To the left are His Majesty'sbaths and on the right, projecting out over the river, is the JasmineTower of Queen Janahara. Now please follow me. His Majesty has honoredyou by inviting you to wait for him in the _Diwan-i- Khas_. The onlyother _feringhis _ever to see it are the Jesuits he sometimes inviteshere to debate with the mullahs."
Around them the marble porticoes had been carved in relief, a profusionof flowers and vines, creating a monochromatic garden in stone. Thefloors were patterned marble and the walls decorated with hangingtapestries. As they entered the _Diwan-i-Khas, _Hawksworth noticed itsfloor was covered with a vast Persian carpet, over which had beenscattered bolsters and pillows for lounging. On the side nearest theinterior square was a foot-high platform in white marble and on theopposite side, facing a gallery overlooking the arena below and theJamuna River beyond, was a similar platform in black marble. Both werepadded with rich carpets.
"His Majesty uses the white throne in evenings, and the black in theafternoons, when he sometimes comes here to watch elephant fights inthe square below. The doorway there leads to Her Majesty's apartments."
"Where is His Majesty now?"
"He has retired to the _zenana _for one _pahar_, three hours, where hedines on roasted meats, some wine, and passes the time agreeably. Eachafternoon Her Majesty selects a woman for him." Moghul smiled."Naturally it's never the same one. Her Majesty is always first in hisheart, but she never allows his wanton affections to wander. Afterwardhe comes here for his evening gathering." Nadir Sharif walked to thegallery and looked down on the river. Far below, on the opposite bank,a caravan of heavily loaded camels passed silently. "By the way, HisMajesty has asked me to inquire if you have a lodging yet, Ambassador."
"I have references for brokers, and tomorrow I'll begin to look."
"And personal servants?"
"I'd hoped they'd be provided with the house."
"His Majesty may wish to arrange lodgings for you." Nadir Sharif turnedback toward Hawksworth and paused for a moment before continuing. "InAgra ambassadors must acquire their lodgings and servants with care.There is, regrettably, a certain amount of intrigue in our city.Trustworthy and efficient servants are not always the easiest thing tofind. Perhaps I should raise the matter of your lodging and servantswith His Majesty."
"There's no reason to trouble His Majesty. I'll contact the
brokers tomorrow." Hawksworth's tone was level but firm, suspectingthat any servants picked for him would be spies. And if they turned outto be "trustworthy and efficient" rather than lazy and begrudging,there would be no doubt.
"The matter rests with His Majesty." Nadir Sharif watched as a eunuchentered bearing a tray with glasses of _sharbat_. A _sarangi _playerfollowed him and settled in the corner, striking up a mournful-soundingtune on an instrument that looked like a bloated violin and sounded, toHawksworth, like a distressed cat.
"Have you engaged an agent yet, Ambassador?" Nadir Sharif directed thetray toward Hawksworth.
"What do you mean?"
"If your king wishes to trade large quantities of commodity, he willcertainly require an agent here in Agra. To ensure that documents andapprovals are handled efficiently." Nadir Sharif sighed. "Officialshere naturally prefer to work with someone who understands their . . .requirements. An agent will be essential, if your king expects to tradeheavily." Nadir Sharif paused. "I presume that is his intention,assuming His Majesty approves the _firman_?"
Hawksworth examined Nadir Sharif for a moment, assuming he was offeringto be the agent for King James. Or was he merely hoping to elicit tradeinformation to pass on to the Portuguese.
"I'll engage an agent when the time seems proper. For now I have no_firman_." Then a light suddenly dawned somewhere in Hawksworth'sbrain. "But I suppose I'll need an 'agent' for that as well?"
"It could prove useful. His Majesty can be distressingly absentminded."
"And what would be this agent's fee?"
"It depends on the difficulty involved." Nadir Sharif's face remainedimpassive.
"I would say it also depends on whether he's successful."
"So it would. But he would need more information on English tradingintentions than you have divulged so far."
"That will come in time, when I know more about the 'agent.'"
"Naturally." Nadir Sharif cleared his throat. "But enough
of affairs. Permit me to toast your arrival. When your request for asafe-conduct pass arrived from Surat, we all wondered if a _feringhi_new to India could successfully travel our bandit-infested roads, evenwith the Moghul's pass." He took a delicate sip of the beverage. "Itrust your journey was without mishap."
"For the most part."
"A diplomatic answer. But you seem to have survived all parts wellenough. Did you take the Burhanpur road?"
"I did."
"Ah, then perhaps you passed Prince Jadar. I understand he was thererecently." Nadir Sharif smiled disarmingly. "I always welcome news ofhim. You may know he's married to my first daughter, Mumtaz. I hear shejust presented him with his first son."
"He was in Burhanpur when I arrived. But I was only there for threedays."
"Not a very interesting city, I'm told. But they say the Deccan itselfis quite beautiful in harvest. I envy you your trip. I, alas, rarelycan escape Agra, except when His Majesty goes to Kashmir in the heat ofsummer." Nadir Sharif signaled the eunuch to refill Hawksworth's cup.The _sarangi _player had been joined by a drummer, who took up a slow,even rhythm. "Did I understand you to say you met the prince while youwere there?"
Hawksworth hesitated and studied Nadir Sharif, not remembering he hadmentioned meeting Jadar. "Actually I did see him briefly once. He wasin the fortress, where I stayed."
"Ah yes, the fortress. That was wise of you, considering the situationnow. I'm pleased he invited you to join him."
"As it happened, I traveled from Surat with men from his guard. Theirdestination was the fortress."
"His guards? Then you were most fortunate indeed." Nadir Sharif seemedto listen absently to the melody for a moment. "I'm always a bit stupidabout military campaigns. What would men from his guards be doing inSurat?"
Hawksworth heard an inner alarm suddenly sound. "I think they werethere to accompany a convoy."
"A convoy? From Surat? Odd. But then I rarely understand these things.What was it bringing?" Nadir Sharif chuckled congenially. "Barrels ofPersian wine for the prince, I would venture to guess?"
"I understand it was lead for shot."
Nadir Sharif gave Hawksworth a quick, troubled glance. "I see. Yes,lead would require a guard. But Prince Jadar's Rajputs virtually scornto use muskets, so I assume it was rather a small number of carts."
Hawksworth straightened his doublet, shifting the location of VasantRao's katar. "I don't recall the precise number."
"Naturally. I'm confused by numbers myself. Probably something liketwenty, I suppose. Certainly, I would presume, no more than fifty?"
"I didn't count the exact number."
"Too many to count? I see." Nadir Sharif seemed to be only halfattentive to the conversation, as he swung his head from side to sidein appreciation of the accelerating tempo of the drummer. "Doubtless itwas some of the very lead I'm told you brought for trade."
"It wasn't English."
"Ah, then I suppose it was Portuguese. I assume you must have noticed."
"Not actually." Hawksworth paused. "It wasn't really my concern."
"Yes, quite so." Nadir Sharif walked again to the gallery and stoodsilent, still swinging his head absently to the time of the music. Thepieces of the puzzle had already dropped into place.
So that's how Jadar did it. And only one man in Surat could haveprovided the prince the silver he needed, that contemptible son of amoneylender Mirza Nuruddin. He's uncontrollable. But even if the princesurvives the Deccan, what can he do? The Imperial army . . .
Allah, it's obvious! There's only one way he can ever march north withenough men to meet Janahara's army. By the Merciful Prophet, he's mad!
Nadir Sharif coughed lightly and turned back toward the
room. "Ambassador Hawksworth, would you care for some wine? You neednot be squeamish, His Majesty has always admired men who drink. I wouldjoin you, but regrettably I cannot. While His Majesty retires, the restof us must labor on."
"A glass would be welcome."
"A glass, Ambassador? Did you say 'a glass'?" Nadir Sharif laughed."You'll need more than a glass if you drink with His Majesty. I'll sendthe servants." He bowed again at the doorway of the vestibule. "I'llrejoin you when I can. In the meantime, summon the eunuchs if yourequire anything."
He turned and was gone. In what seemed only moments, two turbanedservants appeared, smiling as they placed a large chalice of wine onthe carpet next to Hawksworth's bolster.
