"_Khan_ is a title given to high-ranking officers in our service. It carries with it great honor. And a salary. No _feringhi _has ever before been made a _khan _by us. You will be the first." He laughed broadly. "So now you must stay in India and drink with us. You are in our hire." "I'm flattered by Your Majesty's generosity." Hawksworth found himself stunned--by the honor and also by the disquieting implications for his planned return to England. "What are the duties of a _khan_?" "First, Inglish, we must have a ceremony, to invest you properly." Arangbar seemed to ignore the looks of disbelief on the faces around him. "You will be given a personal honorary rank, called _zat_, of four hundred. And a horse rank, called _suwar_, of fifty." "Does it mean I have to maintain that many cavalry?" Hawksworth blanched, realizing his money was already growing short. "If you do, you will be the first _khan _in India who ever did. No, Inglish, you will be provided salary for that number, but you need not maintain more than twenty or thirty. We will personally select them for you after the wedding." Arangbar turned and motioned to Nadir Sharif. The prime minister came forward and one of the eunuchs handed him a small box, of teakwood worked in gold. He motioned for Hawksworth to kneel directly in front of Arangbar. The nobles around them still could not disguise their astonished looks. Nadir Sharif moved directly above where Hawksworth was kneeling and opened the box. "His Majesty, by this symbol, initiates you into discipleship. It is bestowed only on the very few." He took out a small gold medal, attached to a chain, and slipped the chain over Hawksworth's head. Hawksworth noted that the medal had the likeness of Arangbar imprinted on both sides. "Now you must prostrate yourself before His Majesty." "May it please His Majesty, the ambassador of a king must show his gratitude after the custom of his own country," Hawksworth replied to Nadir Sharif, then bowed lightly to Arangbar. "I humbly thank Your Majesty in the name of King James." Nadir Sharif's face darkened. "You must _teslim _to His Majesty." "No, not the Inglish." Arangbar waved Nadir Sharif aside. "He must follow his own custom. Now, give him the pearl." Nadir Sharif took a large pearl from the box and stood before Hawksworth. "This you must wear in your left ear, where your gold earring is now." Hawksworth examined the pearl. It was immense, and perfect. "Again I thank Your Majesty." Hawksworth looked up to see Arangbar beaming. "How shall I wear it?" "My jeweler will fit it for you, Inglish." A wry, portly man stepped forward and quickly removed the small gold earring from Hawksworth's ear. Just as deftly, he attached the pearl where it had been.