The Moghul

informing her that marriage depends on three circumstances: the assent of the bride and groom, the evidence of two witnesses, and the marriage settlement. He then turned to Allaudin and asked him to name the sum he brought.
    Allaudin mumbled a figure that Hawksworth did not catch, but then the qazi repeated it for the guests. Hawksworth caught his breath when he realized the amount named was fifty lakhs of rupees. Then Allaudin said something else, which the qazi did not repeat.
    Later Hawksworth learned that Allaudin had added he was giving only ten lakhs of rupees then, and the balance at some indefinite future time.
    The qazi blessed the royal pair, praying that they would be blissful in this world and in eternity, and then wrote something quickly in a book he carried. Finally the eunuchs appeared again and assisted the bride into the palanquin. The marriage ceremony seemed to be over.
    A glass of wine was placed in Hawksworth's hand, and he looked up to see Arangbar beaming with satisfaction.
    "Now we drink, Inglish. Come, sit closer and help me toast the bridegroom."
    "It was truly a royal wedding, Your Majesty."
    "But it's not over, Inglish." Arangbar roared with laughter. "The hardest part is yet to come. Does my son have the strength to complete the work he's offered to undertake? No one can leave until we're sure."
    Hawksworth had begun his third glass of wine when Princess Layla reappeared, wearing a lighter dress, though still resplendent. Behind her eunuchs carried several palanquins piled high with vessels and trays of silver. Following them were servants bearing bundles on their heads.
    "Those are the wares she brings to the marriage, Inglish, and her servants. I think she will make him a good wife."
    The royal pair moved together, Layla still veiled, and then Queen Janahara stepped down from the dais and took a large mirror handed her by a turbaned eunuch. She walked to the couple and stopped directly in front of them. As they stood facing her, she held the mirror before Allaudin and reached to lift Layla's veil, giving him his first glimpse of his bride.
    Hawksworth studied her with curiosity. She was plain. And she looked very frightened.
    "It's auspicious, Inglish, if his first sight of his bride is in a mirror. I have not seen her before either." Arangbar examined her for a moment, then turned to Nadir Sharif. "What do you think? Should I buy him another one for his bed?"
    "She's a goddess of beauty, Majesty. Inspiration for a poet."
    "Is that what you think?" Arangbar sipped pensively from his cup. "Well, perhaps it's true. We'll discover soon enough if she inspires her groom."
    The guests watched as Allaudin and Layla were helped into a large palanquin. In moments their procession was winding out of the palace, followed by Layla's household silver, to a great fanfare of drums and trumpets and the shouts of servants.
    "Peace on the Prophet!"
    "There is no nobility but the nobility of Mohammed!"
    "Allah be with Him, the noblest, the purest, the highest!"
    Hawksworth settled back against his bolster and realized groggily that it was already past two o'clock in the morning.
    When the wedding procession had disappeared from view, the jubilant servants immediately turned to preparations for the banquet.
    "Sometimes life can be sweet, Inglish." Arangbar leaned back against a bolster and pinched Janahara's hand. "I think he should have more wives. You know there's a saying in India: 'A man should have four wives: A Persian to have someone to talk to; a Khurasani to keep his house; a big-breasted Hindu from the South to nurse his children; and a Bengali to whip, as a warning to the other three.' So far he has only the Persian."
    Hawksworth noticed that Janahara did not join in the general laughter. Then Arangbar took another drink and turned to Hawksworth.
    "But you know I don't entirely agree with that wisdom, Inglish. The Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, wisely realized a man needs more than one wife. He also demanded of us that we give each of them equal attention, never to turn away from any one of them. What man can do that, even with Allah's help? It is never possible. So we all do the best we can. It is the will of Allah." Arangbar paused to swallow a ball of affion as he watched the trays of lamb being placed before them. "Tell me, Inglish, have you found a wife for yourself yet?"
    "Not as yet, Your Majesty." He paused. "There are so many to choose."
    "Then take more than one, Inglish." Arangbar