Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.18.9

42.18.9

and the Emperor, who prided in his keenness of understanding and penetration, swallowed such a coarse report, without ever reflecting that if the Prince was really in such a criminal correspondence with the besieged King, he had no need of shutting himself up with him; he had only to send for the enemy's army of observation, and after joining it with his own troops, to fall at once upon the Imperialists. Such as was this report, it made a deep impression upon the Emperor's mind, and it kindled his resentment into a flame; and as the Prince's two principal officers had been of his own training and recommending, and he reckoned on their being still attached more particularly to their ancient master, he sent for them in secret, and put an infinity of questions to each of them apart. These were the superintendent of the Prince's private apartments, and the Eunuch Quoadja-abdol-mucarem. Promises, threats, lofty tone of voice, soothing expressions—all was made use of, and produced nothing. Both those men agreed in answering separately, "That they knew no other intention in the Prince, but that of obtaining a pardon for Abul-hassen, and making his peace; or at least of engaging him to surrender the fortress upon terms; by either of which operations, he expected to reap much honor and glory for himself.