Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s10.3

v4.c54.s10.3

His message reached the Peshwā in the morning of the 23rd. The whole of that day was wasted by this imbecile court in alarm, confusion and futile discussions. Bāloji Kunjar and Nimbāji Bhāskar, two of the envoys summoned by Holkar, refused to go; they had worked out the brutal sentence of death on Vitoji Holkar and they knew, only too well, what they were to expect from Vitoji's brother. At last, after nightfall, five servants of third-rate rank were sent by the Peshwā to Jaswant to deliver his message and make a compromise. They reached his camp near Theur at midnight, but he immediately turned them out, bluntly saying, "I cannot busy myself in this child's play. The three men I had demanded as the Peshwā's agents have not been sent to me. I have nothing to say to any one else from that side."