The Akbarī Generations 1.1.2

1.1.2

The Mahdi was considered to be a man of suspicious temperament, and being unaware of my father's presence, when Mir Khalifa had gone, he stroked his beard, and said to himself, "Please God, I will flay thee!" As soon as he had said this, he perceived my father, and being greatly moved he took him by the ear, and said, "O Tájik, the red tongue uses its sharp point to no purpose." My father took leave and departed. He went with all haste to Mir Khalifa, and said, "Notwithstanding the existence of such intelligent princes as Muhammad Humayun Mirza and his brothers, you have shut your eyes against loyalty, and desire to transfer the sovereignty to another house; the end of all this will be this." He then told him what Mahdi Khwája had said. Mir Khalifa instantly sent off to fetch Prince Humayun, and he sent an officer to Mahdi Khwája with an order in His Majesty's name, directing him to retire to his house. The officers hastened to the Khwája, who was just about to sit down to dinner, and without any ceremony sent him off to his house. Mir Khalifa then issued a proclamation that no one was to visit or hold communication with Mahdi Khwaja, and that he was not to attend the darbár.