burlesques-第58章
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（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。 Noyesnoyesit
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 beSaadut 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 wellI 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 windthe nightingale
sings of the rose all nightwhere 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 doubtlike 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…
timegrief is often succeeded by joy。〃
〃Interpret； O riddler！〃 said I； 〃Gahagan Khan is no reader of
puzzlesno 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！ Speakhow 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 captainoh 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？〃
〃'Tis too true。〃
〃Hearken now； Gahagan Khan。 His Highness Prince Holkar has sent me
to thee。 You shall have the moon…face for your wifeyour second
wife； that is；the first shall be the incomparable Puttee Rooge；
who loves you to madness；with Puttee Rooge； who is the wife； you
shall have the wealth and rank of Bobbachy Bahawder； of whom his
Highness intends to get rid。 You shall be second in command of his
Highness's forces。 Look； here is his commission signed with the
celestial seal； and attested by the sacred names of the forty…nine
Imaums。 You have but to renounce your religion and your service；
and all these rewards are yours。〃
He produced a parchment； signed as he said； and gave it to me （it
was beautifully written in Indian ink： I had it for fourteen years；
but a rascally valet； seeing it very dirty； WASHED it； forsooth；
and washed off every bit of the writing）。 I took it calmly； and
said； 〃This is a tempting offer。 O Vizier； how long wilt thou give
me to consider of it？〃
After a long parley； he allowed me six hours； when I promised to
give him an answer。 My mind； however； was made upas soon as he
was gone； I threw myself on the sofa and fell asleep。
。 。 。 。 。 。
At the end of the six hours the Vizier came back： two people were
with him； one； by his martial appearance； I knew to be Holkar； the
other I did not recognize。 It was about midnight。
〃Have you considered？〃 said the Vizier as he came to my couch。
〃I have；〃 said I； sitting up；I could not stand； for my legs were
tied； and my arms fixed in a neat pair of steel handcuffs。 〃I
have；〃 said I； 〃unbelieving dogs！ I have。 Do you think to pervert
a Christian gentleman from his faith and honor？ Ruffian
blackamoors！ do your worst； heap tortures on this body； they cannot
last long。 Tear me to pieces： after you have torn me into a
certain number of pieces； I shall not feel it； and if I did； if
each torture could last a life； if each limb were to feel the
agonies of a whole body； what then？ I would bear allallall
allallALL！〃 My breast heavedmy form dilatedmy eye flashed
as I spoke these words。 〃Tyrants！〃 said I； 〃dulce et decorum est
pro patria mori。〃 Having thus clinched the argument； I was silent。
The venerable Grand Vizier turned away； I saw a tear trickling down
his cheeks。
〃What a constancy；〃 said he。 〃Oh； that such beauty and such
bravery should be doomed so soon to quit the earth！〃
His tall companion only sneered and said； 〃AND BELINDA？〃
〃Ha！〃 said I； 〃ruffian； be still！heaven will protect her spotless
innocence。 Holkar； I know thee； and thou knowest ME too！ Who；
with his single sword； destroyed thy armies？ Who； with his pistol；
cleft in twain thy nose…ring？ Who slew thy generals？ Who slew thy
elephants？ Three hundred mighty beasts went forth to battle： of
these I slew one hundred and thirty…five！ Dog； coward； ruffian；
tyrant； unbeliever！ Gahagan hates thee； spurns thee； spits on
thee！〃
Holkar； as I made these uncomplimentary remarks； gave a scream of
rage； and； drawing his scimitar； rushed on to despatch me at once
（it was the very thing I wished for）； when the third person sprang
forward； and seizing his arm； cried
〃Papa！ oh； save him！〃 It was Puttee Rooge！ 〃Remember；〃 continued
she； 〃his misfortunesremember； oh； remember mylove！〃and here
she blushed； and putting one finger into her mouth； and banging
down her head； looked the very picture of modest affection。
Holkar sulkily sheathed his scimitar； and muttered； 〃'Tis better as
it is； had I killed him now； I had spared him the torture。 None of
this shameless fooling； Puttee Rooge；〃 continued the tyrant；
dragging her away。 〃Captain Gahagan dies three hours from hence。〃
Puttee Rooge gave one scream and faintedher father and the Vizier
carried her off between them； nor was I loth to part with her； for；
with all her love； she was as ugly as the deuce。
They were gonemy fate was decided。 I had but three hours more of
life： so I flung myself again on the sofa； and fell profoundly
asleep。 As it may happen to any of my readers to be in the same
situation； and to be hanged themselves； let me earnestly entreat
them to adopt this plan of going to sleep； which I for my part have
repeatedly found to be successful。 It saves unnecessary annoyance；
it passes away a great deal of unpleasant time； and it prepares one
to meet like a man the coming catastrophe。
。 。 。 。 。 。
Three o'clock came： the sun was at this time making his appearance
in the heavens； and with it came the guards； who were appointed to
conduct me to the torture。 I woke； rose； was carried out； and was
set on the very white donkey on which Loll Mahommed was conducted
through the camp after he was bastinadoed。 Bobbachy Bahawder rode
behind me； restored to his rank and state； troops of cavalry hemmed
us in on all sides； my ass was conducted by the common executioner：
a crier went forward； shouting out； 〃Make way for the destroyer of
the faithfulhe goes to bear the punishment of his crimes。〃 We
came to th
