Storia do Mogor 141.5

141.5

he and the grandees wished to resort to his garden to disport themselves. The obedient servant made no demur. The king went with his greatest nobles, and in promenading round the garden, the envious men brought the king past the said house. Making a sign to him, they succeeded in making him ask for the key of the said hut. On entering, he found it full of cobwebs and an old box lying in a corner. Pretending to laugh at such a treasure-house, he asked what precious thing was hidden in that lovely chest. His slave replied that there was nothing fit to show His Majesty, nor, as the box was old, was it fit for putting precious things in. These words were quite enough to make the courtiers urge the king not to come out until he knew and had seen what thing was preserved in such an escritoire. Malik Khas resisted for a time, until the king himself said he wanted to see what was in the box. Malik Khas drew out the key from his pocket, opened the box, and satisfied the hunger and thirst, from which his enemies were suffering, for getting hold of something to ruin the faithful man. The box was opened, and it was found that there was nothing in it but an old and rusty sickle and a peasant's hairy cloak. They were all astonished at finding there was in the box nothing of any value in the eyes of men ; and where they had tried to catch Malik Khas and ruin him, they were only the means of making [140] him still greater, as so often results to those unjustly persecuted.