Dirrag led his master straight to the royal palace, reaching it just as the first rays of the sun fell upon the city. As he arrived unexpectedly, there was none to receive him except a few sleepy servants and the sirdars of the tribes of Mem and Agot, who shared the watch over the chamber1 of the khan. These, being loyal to the reigning2 house, were overjoyed at the speedy and safe return of the messenger, and cast curious glances at his tall companion.
But Dirrag knew where his duty lay and did not linger an instant. He pressed on to the khan’s own chamber, and entered without announcement, followed closely by Ahmed.
The Persian stood by an open window, engaged in rolling a cigarette. He paused, motionless, as he saw Dirrag. His eye{120} lighted with satisfaction, and he drew a sigh of relief.
“Back already!” he said, pleasantly.
“As you see,” answered Dirrag, with pride. “It is the morning of the sixth day, and I have saved twelve hours from my allotted3 time. And here is Prince Ahmed, the son of Burah Khan, and heir to the Lion of Mekran—safe and sound, although nearly as weary as I am myself.”
A long speech for Dirrag, but warranted by the marvelous ride he had so successfully accomplished5.
The Persian seemed not to hear it. He was staring fixedly6 at the tall form of the Prince.
“You!” he gasped7, as if a great surprise overwhelmed him.
Ahmed, with wide eyes reading the other through and through, and seemingly filled with equal astonishment8, answered steadily9 and briefly10:
“I am the man.”
“I have searched for you throughout the East,” said the Physician, recovering in a degree his composure. “And now{121}—”
“Now you have found me,” returned Ahmed, smiling upon the other.
The two men clasped hands, and Dirrag, uneasily regarding the amazing thing, shifted his booted feet back and forth11 with a child’s nervousness.
“You the son of Burah Khan!” exclaimed one.
“You the famed physician of Persia!” said the other.
But Dirrag did not understand. They spoke12 a queer language unknown to him.
Presently, however, the physician noted13 his distress14 and drew away from the Prince, saying in the Baluch tongue:
“My lord the Prince Ahmed is welcome. It is fortunate for us all that he has arrived safely.”
“And in time, I hope?” enquired15 Ahmed, eagerly. “How is my—how is Burah Khan’s health?”
The Persian gave a little laugh, sat down, and proceeded to light his cigarette.
“Burah Khan is dead,” said he.
“Dead!”
The physician nodded, blowing a cloud{122} of smoke from his nostrils16. Dirrag gave a groan17 and sank limply into a chair. Ahmed, with a swift glance into the Persian’s face, merely frowned and stood at attention, as if waiting to hear more.
“It is doubtless a great misfortune,” continued the physician, speaking in a leisurely18 tone, “and I have been in a desperate quandary19, having no one in all the throng20 surrounding the late khan in whom I dared confide21. The vizier is a traitor22, and at the head of a formidable conspiracy23. The sirdars, with one exception, are faithful; but they are warriors24, and not fitted to counsel in so delicate a matter as this. So I have watched beside the khan’s dead body for two days and two nights, and none save myself knew he had ceased to breathe.”
“But, elai! did you not promise—” began Dirrag, in a boisterous26 tone.
“I did,” interrupted the other, coolly. “I promised Burah Khan should live seven days—even while I saw the death-damp upon his brow. For I read the vizier clearly, and suspected there was a conspiracy to supplant27 the dying man’s son. It mattered{123} nothing to me except that it gave me pleasure to try to defeat the plot old Burah was himself unable to foil. Moreover, I had faith in a peculiar28 powder that has been known to hold life within a body for many days. It seemed the game was worth the candle, did it not? And the old khan, to my great satisfaction, did manage to live for four days of the six required by Dirrag to make the journey to Takkatu and back. Then he died without awakening29.”
“It is terrible,” said Dirrag, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Not so,” returned the physician, with an odd smile. “A man has ample time to think when he sits by a dead body. We three are the sole owners of the secret. Well? Shall we ring down the curtain, or go on with the play?”
“The play!” repeated Dirrag, vacantly.
“It is all a play, my friend,” said the Persian, reassuringly30, “and we, living or dead, are expected to assume our characters to the end. So, if an honest man is sometimes called upon to enact31 the part of a villain32, it is not greatly to his discredit33.”{124}
Ahmed stepped close to the physician and his grey eyes gazed full into the other’s brown ones.
“If I become khan,” said he, “it will be due to your friendly offices.”
“I acknowledge it,” the physician replied.
“If I become khan,” persisted Ahmed, in the same level tone, “no man on earth shall dictate34 my acts or cripple my power.”
The Persian smiled, indulgently.
“I will acknowledge that, also,” said he.
“Then,” continued the Prince, throwing himself upon a chair, “let the play go on!”
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Great was the excitement in Mekran when the news............