50 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
being now convinced of the necessity of acting with 
greater forethought, he suffered his rival to retire again 
into Bengal, in order that he might the more surely 
arrange a plot for his destruction. He was led to 
adopt this measure, since he could not but be 
convinced that he had now betrayed his infamous 
designs to many of his courtiers : among whom, 
indeed, his foul practices, so disgraceful to the cha- 
racter of a great prince, had become a common theme 
of gossip, and the mark of their secret vitupe- 
rations. 
Despotic monarchs, however, are never without 
courtiers who flatter their worst passions, and pan- 
der to their most pernicious pleasures. Nor was 
the court of Jehanghir an exception to this trite 
remark ; for, had there been in the presence no other 
sycophant, Kootab, Suba of Bengal, was in himself 
a host. This heartless villain, in order that he might 
ingratiate himself with his royal master — for it has 
never been proved that he acted by the king’s express 
commands — hired a band of forty desperadoes, to 
whom he entrusted the formidable task of attacking 
and murdering Shere Afghan, as soon as an oppor- 
tunity should present itself. The friends of the hero, 
however, found means to apprise him of this nefa- 
rious scheme, and he in consequence determined 
upon remaining within his doors, until he should be 
able to discern from what quarter the blow would 
be aimed ; although such was his confidence in his 
