Nadir Sharif let the silence swell, then in a voice brittle as ice he spoke. "Why did the prince meet with him?" Vasant Rao tried without success to mask his surprise. Lord Krishna, they know everything in Agra. "There was a meeting." Vasant Rao hesitated, then decided to maintain discretion. "But neither spoke of it afterwards." Nadir Sharif studied him, pondering if it were true. Then he turned to glance at the _darshan_ balcony as he spoke. "The Moghul has demanded that the English _feringhi_ be brought to _durbar_ immediately after he arrives." "Does that mean today?" Vasant Rao shifted with surprise. "His Majesty will hear soon enough he has arrived. There is no choice." "Then the _feringhi_ must be told to prepare, Sharif Sahib. He has a chest containing gifts, and the letter." "I know what he has. Tell him he must bring the gifts to _durbar_. For his sake I hope they're not trifles. His Majesty is most anxious to see them." And the queen is even more anxious to see the letter, Nadir Sharif told himself. Then he smiled as he realized he would see it first. It will be an interesting afternoon. A fanfare of drums sounded faintly from the ramparts of the Red Fort, and for a moment the morning sun seemed to glow even brighter against the gleaming panels of the Jasmine Tower. Nadir Sharif turned toward the _darshan_ balcony. From the shadow of its embroidered satin awning a figure had suddenly emerged. It was just possible to make out the man's glistening robe and his elaborate, patterned turban. Then the heavy jewels of his earrings momentarily caught the morning sunshine and sent streams of light flashing outward. All the waiting crowd bowed low, each man touching the back of his right hand to the ground and then bringing the palm to his forehead as he drew erect. It was the formal _teslim_ given the Moghul, signifying each man's readiness to give himself as an offering. Nadir Sharif scrutinized the scene carefully and drew an almost audible sigh of relief. Then he turned to Vasant Rao. "Have you ever seen the Moghul at morning _darshan_? He continued on distractedly, neglecting to pause for an answer. "You know, it's actually a custom began by Akman, who worshiped the sun as one of the gods. But Arangbar appears in order to maintain his own authority. If he missed _darshan_ for a day, rumors would begin he was dead. Three days and there would be anarchy." Suddenly the cheers from the courtyard died abruptly. In the silence that followed, a single pigeon's cry could be heard from overhead. Nadir Sharif whirled to see a second figure now standing on the balcony beside Arangbar. It was a dark-haired woman. He could not tell if she wore a veil, but her tiara of jewels glistened in the early sun. The color drained from Nadir Sharif's face as he watched. So the rumor was true. For the first time in history, she has appeared beside him at _darshan_, to be worshiped equally. Vasant Rao found himself staring in astonishment.