Storia do Mogor 60.2.8

60.2.8

Still, in order to deceive the deceiver, she pretended to have been won by Akbar's love. After much carrying of messages to and fro, she sent word to him that, overcome by his persistence, she had made up her mind to join him. There was, however, one condition: before she appeared in his presence she wished to say farewell to her husband, in order to be absolved from the oath of fidelity that she had given him. When that was done, she would without hesitation place herself at the king's disposal. King Akbar conceded everything that the lovely Padmini demanded, flattering himself that his pains of martyrdom were on the way to be soon assuaged. She set to work to make the necessary preparations for her journey with great pomp and majesty. She prepared a handsome palanquin, well closed up, collected many eunuchs and foot-runners to surround it, giving them orders not to allow anyone to come close to it. Then, pretending she had relinquished the fortress into the hands of Fath, she caused the closed palanquin to be sent out, accompanied by three thousand Rajput horse, all men of valour; following it were many other well-closed palanquins, as if each held a lady of her suite. The start was so conducted that everybody understood Padmini had gone (all except those who had been charged with carrying out the matter), and lamentation arose at the loss of such a princess.