Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.15.7

19.15.7

as we bear him no ill will at all, and on the contrary, we are desirous to see him obedient and faithful." To this I answered, that if all that had any foundation, how came it that Ram-narain had not sent out a man of his own with a message? On this objection, the man on horseback answered, that the message he had brought was from him, and in consequence of his order to Sheh-hamid-eddin. On hearing which words, the General added: "No matter. Where is the inconvenience in our sending a message to the Radja? So soon as you shall be returned from the city, we shall know better what we are to think of the truth or falsehood of this piece of news." These words imposed me silence; and finding that he was incapable of distinguishing the probable from the improbable, I said that I had no objection, and that if such was his pleasure, I would go; but that I thought the Lord-Navvab ought in the meanwhile to retire to some place, and to recall his people; this being the shortest method for silencing their fire, and for rendering the way to and from the city, as free as before; indeed, the only one that could put it in my power to find access to the Radja. I added, that on my coming back I would give an account of what I had seen and heard. The General replied, that unless the Radja ceased firing on his own side, his people could not slacken their fire.