CHAPTER IV.
In the palace.
Moti reached Agra. We have no more necessity of calling her Moti as the new impulse completely chastened her soul.
She was given an audience with Jehangir who as usual warmly received and questioned her on her brother's health and the comforts of her journey. What Luthfunnisha had told Meherunnisha came out true. At the name Burdwan in the midst of other topics Jehangir enquired what Meherunnisha said about him during her two day's stay with her. Luthfunnisha with an open mind gave him a true story of Meherunnisha's affection for him. Then the Emperor dropped into a sort of blissful forgetfulness and a blank pause ensued. One or two large drops of tears rolled down from his big eyes.
"Your Majesty" broke in Luthfunnisha "the slave has carried you the happy tidings. Why no orders have issued till now for her reward?"
The Badshah smiled and joined "Dearest, your ambition is boundless."
"Your Majesty, why this charge is laid at this slave's door?"
"The Delhi Emperor has placed his body and soul at your feet and still you press for further reward!"
"Women have many desires" added Luthfunnisha laughingly.
"What more desire you have?"
"Let the royal orders be forthcoming first that the slave's prayer shall be granted."
"Provided the royal duty is not hampered."
"The Delhi Lord's work can never suffer on the score of a single poor soul."
"Then I agree. Now let me hear the proposition."
"I have a mind to marry."
Jehangir burst into a salvo of laughter.
"This is a novel sort of desire" said he. "Has the negotiation ended in a compact anywhere?"
"Yes. Only the royal assent is wanting. No contract is valid without the royal warrant."
"What is the use of my permission? Whom you mean to help afloat in the ocean of bliss?"
"Because the slave has served her Emperor she can never be held unchaste. The slave craves permission to marry her own husband."
"Indeed! What would be the fate of this old slave then?"
"He shall be left to the care of Meherunnisha, the prospective mistress of Delhi."
"Who is this Delhi mistress Meherunnisha?"
"She who is in the running."
Jehangir thought that Luthfunnisha must have been boldly confident that Meherunnisha was the Empress elect of Delhi. As she had quite a way to go with the chance of being jockeyed out of the objects of her ambition she wished in disgust to retire from her harem life. This feeling sorely pressed down upon Jehangir's heart and he remained silent.
"Does your Majesty veto this proposal?"
"I can not withold my assent. But where is the necessity of marrying a husband?"
"Ill-starred as I am, the husband of my first marriage sought a divorce from me. Now he shall dare not forsake His Majesty's slave-girl."
The Badshah had a jocund laugh which shortly stiffened down into a rigid expression.
"My darling, you are given a 'carte blanche'" joined he "If you have the inclination, then follow the bend of it. But why are you to leave me for good? Do the sun and moon not shine in the same firmament? Do the twin buds never flower on the same stalk?"
Luthfunnisha focussed the full glare of her large wide eyes on the Badshah and rejoined "The tiny flowers may bloom but the twin lilies can never blossom on the same stem! Why am I to remain a prickly thorn at the base of your jewelled throne?"
Luthfunnisha retired into her own apartments. She did not explain to Jehangir the cause that furnished the motive power. Jehangir was satisfied with the surface view of the question as he never cared to look a little lower down than the surface. Luthfunnisha had the heart of an adamant. The fascinating graces of the royal debonair Selim failed to entrap her mind. Marble-hearted as she was, a worm now began eating into that unimpressionable heart.