Delhi in Moghal Times
he was given a "khllat," or dress of honour, and a richly jewelled shield with the office of prime minister, swearing fealty on the Koran. At a subsequent audience he demanded pay for his troops, and assumed a pretence of anger at the refusal ; he disarmed the old king, ordered him into arrest, took a royal prisoner from the
Salimgarh prison and placed him on the throne, from which he ordered Shah Alam to descend. He then proceeded to ill-treat the old man and
the ladies of his family, whom he stripped of their jewellery; he even lounged on the throne beside the wretched puppet whom he had set up, and puffed smoke into his face. Deeds like this were naturally regarded with horror by the people, and the name of Ghulam Kadir still stands for all that is vile ; but worse was to come.
The ruffian ordered Shah Alam to be brought into the Diwan Khas, and asked him once more to give up the secret of his treasure-house; what could the unfortunate king do but protest that there was no treasure? This must have been perfectly true, for we have seen that, not long before, he had melted down his plate. More words passed, until Shah Alam, losing all patience, dared his tormentor to do his worst; whereupon the wretch leaped from the throne,249
