Travels in India (Tavernier) 17.2.6

17.2.6

Wishing one day, while the King was in the divan, to leave the palace on urgent business, which could not by any means be deferred, the Captain of the guard caught me by the arm, and told me roughly that I should not pass out. I argued with him some time, but at length, seeing that he would treat me with violence, I put my hand to my canjare, and would have struck him in the rage I was in if three or four guards, who saw my action, had not restrained me. Happily for me the Nawáb, who was uncle of the King, passed at the moment, and being informed of the subject of our quarrel, ordered the Captain of the guards to let me go out. He reported to the King in due course how the matter had occurred, and in the evening the Nawáb sent one of his people to tell me that his majesty had notified that I might enter and leave the palace as I pleased while he was in the divan, for which I went on the following day to thank the Nawab.