Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.10.5

19.10.5

and after having had the honour to kiss the columns that supported the Imperial throne, he made him alight at a lodging that had been provided for the purpose; and there he imparted to him the particulars of his scheme; so that for some days, frequent councils were held on that subject. The hungry Grandees of the Prince's famished Court were soon gained over by Mahmed-côly-qhan, and soon were of his opinion; especially Medar-ed-doula, who was a complete master of the art of becoming any one's friend, no matter whether good or bad, for his money; for he knew how to accommodate himself to all tempers, soon took the lead of all the Shah-zada's friends in this affair, and soon became the channel of all intelligence, and all consultation between the Prince and Mahmed-côly-qhan. Whilst they were holding councils, Shudja-ed-doula, who never had any other view but that of deceiving his kinsman, and who only waited for a good opportunity, took a journey to Ilah-abad, where he made him understand that he was ready to follow him as soon as the Prince should have made an impression on the enemy's country. "But then," said he, "I cannot "think of quitting my own ground to invade any one's dominions, "and especially the Eastern ones, unless I have some place of "safety where I may leave my consort and family; and you know "that I cannot leave them in an open country, every moment "exposed to the invasions of Umad-el-mulk, of Ahmed-qhan-bangash, and of the other Afghan Princes.