Then came a call from Mirza
Shah, bidding me to ascend.
"'Syed Ali,' he said, on my entry into the room, 'this man, Gholab Khan,
has to-night had the choice between two alternatives, either to die here
now at my hands, or to set forth at dawn and fight in single combat the
leader of my beleaguering enemies. He has chosen the latter--the wise
course.'
"'The only course,' interpolated Gholab Khan, with a shoulder shrug of
protest. The fellow had recovered his equanimity, and, knowing him as I
did from our few days of travel in company, I reflected that in mortal
combat he would be likely to give good account of himself. But there was
no time to indulge in surmises. Mirza Shah still claimed my attention.
"'My men will guard our guest here,' he continued. 'Food will be served
to him.'
"'And some wine, please,' growled Gholab Khan.
"'Wine, too, then, if you will,' assented Mirza Shah, contemptuously,
for he never by any chance used the fermented juice of the grape
forbidden by the Prophet, and now rendered doubly hateful to him by
reason of his son's excesses. 'At dawn weapons will be brought to you,
and six horses from among which you can make your choice. Meanwhile the
challenge will have gone forth. And once again, in the presence of this
witness, I pledge my word that if you return successful from the combat,
Gholab Khan, having killed your man, then will you be free to return
unscathed to your home at Talakabad, and with a lac of rupees for your
pains.
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