Chapter Thirty Two

That afternoon Osman presented himself before the prince, as he had promised, and said: "Your Highness, hast thou any mind to send a reply?"

The prince had already written a reply and had it ready; he took up the letter and gave it to Osman. Osman received it and said: "I pray thou wilt take no offence — we have our custom here: when any person within the fort sends a letter to any other, the garrison officers read it before it is dispatched."

The prince replied with some little dejection: "That is a matter of course. Pray open the letter and read it; if thou seest fit, thou mayest send it on."

Osman opened the letter and read it. It contained only these words:

Unhappy woman! I shall not forget thy entreaty. But if thou art a faithful wife, hasten to follow the path of thy husband and thereby wash away the stain upon thy honour.

Jagatsingh.

Osman read it and said: "Your Highness, thy heart is very hard."

The prince replied coldly: "Not harder than a Pathan's."

Osman's face coloured a little. He said with some sharpness: "I trust the Pathans, in your undoing, have at least not been discourteous toward thee."

The prince was both angered and ashamed. He said: "No, sir — I speak not of thee. Thou hast shown me every kindness. Thou hast spared my life even in captivity; thou hast had the wounds of a soldier who slew thine own men treated and healed. One who should by right lie in fetters in a dungeon, thou art lodging in a house of pleasure — the end of such favour I cannot fathom. Let me be a prisoner — place me in a prison-cell, free me from these gentle chains. And if I am not a prisoner, then what need is there to confine me in this gilded cage?"

Osman answered with composure: "Your Highness, why be in haste for misfortune? One need not call ill luck — it comes of its own accord."

The prince said proudly: "Rajputs do not count it misfortune to leave thy bed of flowers and lie down upon a prison's stone floor."

Osman replied: "If a stone floor were the worst of misfortunes, there would be little cause for concern."

The prince looked sharply at Osman and said: "If I cannot inflict the punishment that Katlu Khan deserves, what does death matter?"

Osman said: "Your Highness, have a care! With Pathans, word and deed are one!"

The prince laughed and said: "General, if thou hast come to frighten me, know that thy trouble is wasted."

Osman said: "Your Highness, we know each other too well to have any purpose in empty bluster. I have come to thee upon a matter of some consequence."

Jagatsingh was somewhat surprised. He said: "Pray speak."

Osman said: "The proposal I am about to make, know that I make it by Katlu Khan's command."

J. Very well.

O. Hear me. In the war between Rajput and Pathan, both sides bleed.

The prince said: "The destruction of the Pathan is the very object of the war."

Osman said: "True enough; yet thou canst also see how unlikely it is that one side will be wiped out without the other suffering grievously. Thou hast seen that the defenders of Garh Mandaran are by no means powerless."

Jagatsingh said with the faintest of smiles: "They are skilled enough."

Osman continued: "However that may be, self-glorification is not my purpose. The Pathans cannot long remain at peace in Orissa while they are perpetually at war with the Mughal Emperor. Yet the Mughal Emperor will never wholly subdue the Pathans either. Do not take my words for boasting. Thou art versed in statecraft — consider for thyself how far Delhi lies from Orissa. The Emperor of Delhi may, this time, conquer the Pathans by the strength of Mansingh's arm; but how long will his banner of victory fly over this land? The Maharaja Mansingh will withdraw his army, and the Emperor's authority over Orissa will vanish. Has not Akbar Shah conquered Orissa before? And how long was he able to collect its revenues? If he conquers again this time, the same will happen again. He may send his armies once more; let him conquer Orissa again, and again the Pathans will be free. Pathans are not Bengalis — they never submit to subjection, and will not as long as a single man draws breath — this I say with certainty. What purpose then is there in drenching the earth with Rajput and Pathan blood?"

Jagatsingh said: "What dost thou propose?"

Osman said: "I propose nothing of myself. My lord proposes a treaty of peace."

J. What manner of peace?

O. Let both sides accept some concession. Nawab Katlu Khan is prepared to relinquish his hold upon that portion of Bengal which he has conquered by force of arms. Let Akbar Shah also relinquish his claim upon Orissa and withdraw his forces, and let him refrain from attacking us in future. In this the Emperor suffers no real loss — indeed the loss is ours. We are surrendering what we won at great cost; the Emperor is surrendering only what he was never able to win.

The young prince listened, then said: "It is well said; but why are these proposals addressed to me? The Maharaja Mansingh is the master of war and peace — send thy embassy to him."

Osman said: "An embassy was sent to the Maharaja; but unhappily someone has spread word that the Pathans have taken thy life. The Maharaja in his grief and anger would not so much as hear the name of peace, nor would he give credence to the ambassador's words. If Your Highness himself were to propose the treaty, he might consent."

The prince looked at Osman steadily once more and said: "Speak plainly. A letter in my own hand would likely convince the Maharaja. Why then dost thou tell me to go in person?"

O. For this reason: the Maharaja Mansingh does not fully understand our true position; from thee he will learn how matters actually stand. Moreover, thy personal solicitation is more likely to carry weight than any written letter can. One immediate fruit of the treaty will be thy own release from captivity. It is therefore Nawab Katlu Khan's resolve that thou shalt certainly urge this peace.

J. I have no objection to going to my father.

O. I am glad to hear it; but there is one thing more. If thou canst not bring about the peace we desire, thou must pledge to return hither to this fort.

J. What assurance is there that if I pledge it, I shall keep it?

Osman smiled and said: "The assurance is certain enough. All the world knows that a Rajput's word is never broken."

The prince replied with satisfaction: "I pledge that after meeting my father I will return alone to this fort."

O. There is one more matter upon which we beg thy assent — it would place us greatly in thy debt. Give us thy word also that when thou hast obtained audience of the Maharaja, thou wilt strive for the peace we desire.

The prince said: "General, this pledge I cannot give. The Emperor of Delhi has appointed us to conquer the Pathans — conquer the Pathans we shall. He has not appointed us to make peace — make peace we will not; nor will we urge it upon him."

Osman's face showed at once satisfaction and vexation. He said: "Your Highness, thou hast answered like a Rajput — yet consider that there is no other means of thy release."

J. What does the Emperor of Delhi care for my release? There are many princes among the Rajputs.

Osman said with concern: "Your Highness, hear my counsel — give up this intent."

J. Why so, sir?

O. Your Highness, I will speak plainly — it is because the Nawab believed thou couldst serve his purpose that he has kept thee in comfort until now. If thou art obdurate, thou wilt bring great suffering upon thyself.

J. Threats again! Did I not tell thee but a moment ago that I wished to be put in a prison?

O. Your Highness, you may count yourself fortunate if the Nawab is content with imprisonment alone.

The prince frowned. He said: "If it comes to that, let me but add to the stream of Birendrasingh's blood." Fire flew from his eyes.

Osman said: "I take my leave. I have done my part; thou wilt hear Katlu Khan's further commands through another messenger."

A little time later the said messenger arrived. He was a man dressed in soldier's attire, somewhat above the rank of a common foot-soldier in appearance, and he was attended by four armed infantrymen. The prince asked: "What is thy errand?"

The soldier replied: "Thy place of lodging is to be changed."

"I am ready — lead on," said the prince, and followed the messenger.