Pawn in Frankincense - Dorothy Dunnett [282]
He stood facing the veil: looking at it, thought Jerott, as if he could pierce it; or at least in some fashion send his own mind close to the brain behind the plumes and the diamonds. He said, ‘Princess, Míkál’s testimony has been heard, and although the evidence of him and his helpers is true, doubt has been thrown on his integrity. You know perhaps of the history of your Vizier Jubrael Pasha, and of the changing allegiances of his recent years, which have closed Europe to him. You know perhaps of his ambition, which is not of the kind which easily acknowledges a master, whether this be the Grand Vizier or the Sultan himself. It seemed possible, to us who knew him well, that he would not be content as the wise servant and counsellor he seemed, and that his intentions were of a kind which would be tragic for Turkey.…
‘It has not been concealed from you that my pursuit of the Vizier has been also for personal reasons. I cannot prove to you that my son is one of the two boys whose lives he has warped and commanded, any more than he can prove that his son is the other: the trail is now too faint and too many who knew the true facts are dead. All I can say is that from the evidence both he and I know it to be so. One of my concerns therefore has been to remove both children and the girl Philippa, Durr-i Bakht, who became involved with them, out of his grasp. My other purpose was to destroy him; and if I could not do this myself, to bring him to receive his deserts from his masters.…
‘Much has been spoken of evidence, but little has appeared. I think the time has come for witnesses, not hearsay; and words fashioned of ink and not air. I call on Kiaya Khátún.’ And smiling, the woman beside the Sultana flung back her veil.
Gabriel cursed. Jerott could hear the words in English stream from his lips: words whose meaning he hardly knew, from lips which had gone purple. Lymond, who had inexplicably gone very white, in the sudden way that happened to him, gave the woman a faint smile in answer, the colour coming back into his face. Jerott’s tongue came out, insensibly, between his teeth.
Kiaya Khátún. A bright, hot morning in Djerba, and a clear olive face with a Greek nose and black hair and brows. And a low voice saying teasingly, I am Güzel, Dragut Rais’s principal mistress. But I should like you, if you will, to address me as Kiaya Khátún.
Jerott put his tongue in. Philippa, he noticed, savingly, was also staring as if she had been struck on the head. Míkál was smiling. And Marthe … Jerott looked again at Marthe’s face. Marthe’s face was filled with a strange, contemptuous anger.
Then Kiaya Khátún spoke, in her pleasant contralto; coming forward as Philippa had done, with the same low, pleasing obeisance. ‘Princess, hear me; for I also have been your servant in these matters. By my agency the Geomaler Míkál set out to win the confidence of Jubrael Pasha, and undertook for him certain services, all of which he reported to me, or to Crawford Efendi, whom Jubrael has accused. All Míkál has told you is true. All Mr Crawford has said of Jubrael Pasha’s designs on the children is true, and Míkál can vouch for it. I in turn, myself, can swear to you that the parts played by Philippa, Durr-i Bakht, and the girl Marthe were of no evil design, but merely to obtain evidence, again, about Jubrael’s efforts to dupe you and those all around you.… Mr Crawford spoke of witnesses. These I have, and shall bring now before you. Among them, you will hear from the Agha of Janissaries himself how the Vizier has attempted to suborn him. He spoke of letters. These I have also taken from Jubrael Pasha’s own house. In them you will see in Jubrael’s own writing how the rumours were spread and how the so-called evidence against you and Rustem Pasha was to be used, to denigrate both you and your heirs, and leave Jubrael Pasha himself in command, in the twilight of our gracious lord’s life.…’
Gabriel