Scarcely was I awake, when I heard the clash of arms at my door (plainly indicating that sentinels were posted there), and a single old gentleman, richly habited, entered the room.  Did my eyes deceive me?  I had surely seen him before.  No—­yes—­no—­yes—­it was he:  the snowy white beard, the mild eyes, the nose flattened to a jelly, and level with the rest of the venerable face, proclaimed him at once to be—­Saadut Alee Beg Bimbukchee, Holkar’s prime vizier; whose nose, as the reader may recollect, his Highness had flattened with his kaleawn during my interview with him in the Pitan’s disguise.  I now knew my fate but too well—­I was in the hands of Holkar.

Saadut Alee Beg Bimbukchee slowly advanced towards me, and with a mild air of benevolence, which distinguished that excellent man (he was torn to pieces by wild horses the year after, on account of a difference with Holkar), he came to my bedside, and taking gently my hand, said, “Life and death, my son, are not ours.  Strength is deceitful, valor is unavailing, fame is only wind—­the nightingale sings of the rose all night—­where is the rose in the morning?  Booch, booch! it is withered by a frost.  The rose makes remarks regarding the nightingale, and where is that delightful song-bird?  Penabekhoda, he is netted, plucked, spitted, and roasted!  Who knows how misfortune comes?  It has come to Gahagan Gujputi!”

“It is well,” said I, stoutly, and in the Malay language.  “Gahagan Gujputi will bear it like a man.”

“No doubt—­like a wise man and a brave one; but there is no lane so long to which there is not a turning, no night so black to which there comes not a morning.  Icy winter is followed by merry spring-time—­grief is often succeeded by joy.”

“Interpret, O riddler!” said I; “Gahagan Khan is no reader of puzzles—­no prating mollah.  Gujputi loves not words, but swords.”

“Listen, then, O Gujputi:  you are in Holkar’s power.”

“I know it.”

“You will die by the most horrible tortures to-morrow morning.”

“I dare say.”

“They will tear your teeth from your jaws, your nails from your fingers, and your eyes from your head.”

“Very possibly.”

“They will flay you alive, and then burn you.”

“Well; they can’t do any more.”

“They will seize upon every man and woman in yonder fort,”—­it was not then taken!—­“and repeat upon them the same tortures.”

“Ha!  Belinda!  Speak—­how can all this be avoided?”

“Listen.  Gahagan loves the moon-face called Belinda.”

“He does, Vizier, to distraction.”

“Of what rank is he in the Koompani’s army?”

“A captain.”

“A miserable captain—­oh shame!  Of what creed is he?”

“I am an Irishman, and a Catholic.”

“But he has not been very particular about his religious duties?”

“Alas, no.”

“He has not been to his mosque for these twelve years?”