THE KOH-I-NUR. 121
he
was bent on securing, was found to be missing, and for a long time all
his efforts to obtain it were baffled. At last a woman from Mohammed's
harem betrayed the secret, informing Nadir that the emperor wore it
concealed in his turban, which he never on any occasion laid aside.
Nadir
had now recourse to a very clever trick, in order to secure the coveted
prize. Having already seized on the bulk of the Delhi treasures, and
concluded a treaty with the ill-fated Mogul emperor, he had no further
pretext for quarrelling, and could not therefore resort to violence in
order to effect his purpose. But he skilfully availed himself of a
time-honoured Oriental custom, seldom omitted by princes of equal rank,
on State occasions. At the grand ceremony a few days afterwards held
in Delhi, for the purpose of re-instating Mohammed on the throne of his
Tartar ancestors, Nadir suddenly took the opportunity of asking him to
exchange turbans, in token of reconciliation, and in order to cement
the eternal friendship that they had just sworn for each other. Taken
completely aback by this sudden move, and lacking the leisure even for
reflection, Mohammed found himself checkmated by his wily rival, and
was fain, with as much grace as possible, to accept the insidious
request. Indeed the Persian conqueror left him no option, for he
quickly removed his own national sheepskin head-dress, glittering with
costly gems, and replaced it with the emperor's turban. Maintaining the
proverbial self-command of Oriental potentates Mohammed betrayed his
surprise and chagrin by no outward sign, and so indifferent did he
H
