“Show me that you have done so before you expect that I should believe you are not a traitor.” “I have now sought you to make a proposal for the benefit of all within this fortress.” “Declare it.” “Upon certain conditions I undertake to kill the Moslem Sovereign.” “What are they?” “That you will give me your daughter in marriage.” “Had I twenty daughters I should not think it too great a reward for so signal a service. Destroy the tyrant who has led his troops before our walls, and I pledge myself to give you my daughter with an ample dowry.” “I promise, at least, to attempt his death, and nothing but my own will secure his safety.” “I need not tell you that you are believed to have deserted to the enemy from an impulse of revenge towards me. When once an impression of this kind is excited in the breasts of brave and honourable men, it is no easy thing to remove it. If you can accomplish what you propose you will be immediately restored to the good opinion which, so far as now appears, you have justly forfeited.” The Rajpoot was sufficiently satisfied with his reception, but, when he desired to see the object of his attachment, her father replied:-- “No. You are still under the imputation of treachery; that imputation must be removed before you can have any intercourse with my daughter.” “Do you suspect my integrity?” “I have no warranty for your honesty, and therefore till you show that your absence from the city was not dishonourable to you, I can look upon you in no other light than that of a traitor.” “Treat me as a traitor then, and order me to be flung from yonder battlements.” “No! you have undertaken to prove your zeal for the welfare of your country, and I should be loth to deprive you of the opportunity.” “Will you believe me faithful if I make a vacancy in the Mogul sovereignty before the waning of another moon?” “The destruction of the Moslem king will restore you to my confidence, and to that of your countrymen.” The Rajpoot returned to Akbar’s camp. His absence had been noticed. He was summoned before the Monarch. When he entered the presence, Akbar eyed him with keen and significant scrutiny, but the man did not blanch. “Soldier,” said the Emperor, “you were absent last night from the camp. What was the object of your absence?” “The king’s interest.” “The king’s interest is not to be promoted by a breach of discipline.” “I obtained admission into the fort, and have done the base work of a spy for the benefit of my country’s enemy.” The Emperor was silent for a moment, but his eye fixed with an intense expression of inquiry upon the traitor. “What did you learn?” he at length inquired. “That a sally will be made by some of the choicest troops of the garrison, on the second morrow from the present. The governor is determined to suffer extermination rather than capitulate, and has employed a secret assassin to take the Sovereign’s life.” “Know you where he lurks?” “In the Moslem camp.”