Well! I--Khanzada Khanum,--old as I am, will go forth to meet King Humayon and plead thy cause.

I will ask what boon you wish, and I promise it shall be yours.

Humayon will give much in exchange for his son, and none have ever denied me anything.

Shall it be so ?" Then seeing hesitation she put in a crafty word: "There will be time afterwards for--anything----" Kumran looked round his nobles, then into his own heart.

What he saw there was such a tissue of lies and deceit that he could find no clear decision; so, as usual, he temporised.