Later Mughals v1.c8.s18.4

v1.c8.s18.4

Jahandar Shah, immediately on reaching Dihli went, as we have said, straight to the house of Asad Khan, in the hope of securing the renewed co-operation of Zulfiqar Khan. When his arrival, alone, without a single attendant, was announced, Zulfiqar Khan directed that he should not be admitted beyond the gate. The short delay was devoted to consultation with his father. The wily old man, regardless of the infamy of the act, saw that Jahandar Shah could be converted into a ransom for themselves. Fortune had turned its face away from the man, he had made himself odious by his acts and words. It were best to make him a prisoner. They could then use this act as a means for reconciliation with Farrukh-siyar. Asad Khan had long held the highest office in the State, and five years before had been very gently treated by Bahadur Shah. As is not altogether unusual with the old, he had come to believe that he was indispensable, that no Government could be carried on without him. He imagined that Farrukh-siyar, surrounded as he was by new and comparatively untried advisers, would only be too glad to secure the services of two such experienced persons as himself and his son. If not employed at Court, Zulfiqar Khan was still sure to obtain the government of a province, or at any rate, would be allowed to retain his rank and titles. [M. M. 154, Ijad 110a.]