Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/174

 him under your watchful eyes, and while he is the nominal Governor of Ahmadnagar be you careful in the administration of that State."

"Your Majesty's commands will be obeyed. Much honoured am I to have given my daughter's hand on the brave Prince Daniel. Greater men than myself court such an alliance, and I understand the King of Bijapur will soon bestow his fair girl on the same Prince. One of the most learned men of Southern India is negotiating the marriage."

"How do they call him?"

"He calls himself Ferishta, and it is said he is compiling a History of India from the time of Mahmud of Ghazni to your Majesty's own time. Our friend, Abul Fazel, will have to look to his laurels."

"The generous Abul Fazel will welcome a comrade in the profession of letters, and the grave Badaoni, too, will no doubt extend a friendly hand to his brother from the South. With the help of three such accomplished Knights of the Pen," added Akbar, with a smile, "our deeds may be sometimes remembered in this land when we are dead and gone."

"Ay, in other lands too, or I am much mistaken, sire," said the Khan-Khanan. "The fame of the gifted Abul Fazel is not confined to the land of Hind. I have not seen the sword of Akbar, wrote your Majesty's royal brother of Persia, but Abul Fazel's pen strikes fear in one's mind. The fame of that pen will survive when we are laid in our graves."

"And the fame of your inkstand too, noble Khan-Khanan," said Abul Fazel, returning the compliment, "if you can recover it from the heedless beggar."