Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.17.6

42.17.6

and he therefore requested the return of the jewels, as there remained no hopes at all of any favour or commiseration from the Imperial benignity." Saadet-qhan answered, "That being compelled by an Imperial order to urge payment, and uninformed of His Majesty's intention of coming this way, he had sent to the presence both fruit and jewels, the latter sealed as he had received them; and that as a zealous attentive servant of His Majesty's, he could not act otherwise. That this matter being already over, he had nothing to offer in atonement at this present unexpected juncture, but his own head and life, both which he would be glad to sacrifice for the Emperor's service." This answer of Saadet-qhan's having produced some more messages, and replies, people were sent to his lodgings to bring the boxes of jewels from thence; and as a sharp dialogue took place on that subject for two or three days together, Saadet-qhan sent a last answer in these words: "I acknowledge, Prince, that you are in the right, and that my conduct has been artful; but in this I have acted by order; for it had become incumbent on me, as I valued my own safety, to comply punctually with my instructions; and now, become your culprit, I have nothing to offer you in atonement for the perfidy of my conduct, but my own life. Take it, then, if you like it, and afford that handle against you to a man who is seeking this longwhile a pretence to ruin you and "your family.