The Moghul

turned to Janahara with a wink. "He's been practicing for months with the nautch girls in the palace."
    The queen did not smile as she took a rolled betel leaf from a tray.
    A messenger appeared at the foot of the dais and performed the teslim . His voice was quivering. "The sheet has not yet come out, may it please Your Majesty."
    Arangbar laughed. "Then perhaps the furrow is too narrow to receive his plow. Have a mullah bless some water and send it in to him. And tell him I'm waiting to see if he's yet a man."
    "A Shi'ite mullah, Your Majesty, or a Sunni?"
    "From this night forward, he will have Shi'ite mullahs perform all the duties for his household," Janahara interrupted.
    The messenger performed the teslim to the queen and backed from the room. Arangbar sat silent, drinking.
    "What does it matter?" He finally turned to her. "Let him have whatever he pleases."
    "That is easy for you to say. But it does not please Allah. Tonight should be taken as an omen."
    "Tonight is an omen of nothing. Tonight my son is charged to make a woman out of a Persian girl of fifteen, who knows nothing of her duties in bed. But he'll succeed. Give him time."
    "I think tonight is an omen. Allah is not pleased when you allow open heresies to flourish."
    Arangbar was watching a dancer who had approached the dais to begin a suggestive nautch dance for him. It seemed to Hawksworth that they were already well acquainted, for she smiled at him knowingly, avoiding the queen's glance.
    "I care nothing for heresies." Arangbar turned back to Janahara. "I only care for the honor of my reign."
    "But a faith divided does you no honor."
    "Then unite it if you care so much. I have other duties." Arangbar turned again to watch the dancer. She had a large ring in one side of her nose, and her eyes seemed to snap as she slapped her bare feet against the carpeted floor. "I never knew she was so good." He turned to Nadir Sharif. "Send her a small ruby and find out for me tomorrow what her salary is. Whatever it is, I think she should have more."
    "As you wish. Majesty." Nadir Sharif bowed lightly and turned again to watch the dancer.
    Hawksworth studied the prime minister's face. It was grim, leaden.
    It's everything Shirin said would happen. Prince Jadar has been stripped of his lands, and the queen has been granted license to start an inquisition.
    You'd better get the firman signed, before the country starts coming apart.
    The doors of the hall burst open, and a crowd of women entered. They carried a silver plate, on which was a folded silken sheet. They moved quickly before the queen and performed the teslim . Then one held out the plate.
    The queen took the sheet and inspected it. Hawksworth watched her, puzzling, then remembered that in Muslim society a bloodstained wedding sheet is considered evidence, vital to the honor of both the families, of the bride's virginity and the groom's virility. With a triumphant smile, Janahara nodded and turned to exhibit the sheet to Arangbar.
    There were light pink traces across the white silk.
    "He's a man after all." Arangbar passed the sheet to Zainul Beg, who beamed and passed it to Nadir Sharif. The prime minister smiled with approval.
    "He has earned his jagirs ." Arangbar turned to Janahara. "Let it be recorded. And now we feast."
    More silver dishes of baked lamb appeared from inside the palace, brought by eunuchs who inspected them carefully before handing them to serving women. The music and dancing were exultant now and lasted until the light of dawn showed. The drunken guests waited reverently until Arangbar, who had gone to sleep, was carried from the hall on a palanquin. Then they began to disperse.
    Hawksworth reached Nadir Sharif’s side as the prime minister was moving out through the large, tapestry-adorned doorway.
    "What really happened tonight?"
    "What do you mean, Ambassador?"
    "The transfer of jagirs . What will Jadar do?"
    "Ambassador, that's a matter for the rulers of India to decide. It's not your affair." Nadir Sharif did not look around. "Instead let me ask you a question. When will your English fleet make landfall? They are overdue, but there have been no further sightings. I'm beginning to wonder if there really is a fleet."
    "Perhaps the weather's been against them." Hawksworth tried to steady himself on his feet. "After all, it was sighted by Jadar's men."
    "Was it? Or did you and Prince Jadar deceive us all? If there's no fleet. Ambassador, you're in very serious trouble. There