s that, Soyera?"

"You might go to the English Resident, and tell him who you are,
and how you have been brought up. Say that, at present, you wish to
remain in the service of Nana; who has been a good friend to you,
and with whom your sympathies, like those of nearly all the
cultivators in the Peishwa's dominions, accord. Say that you hope,
when the time comes, to return to your countrymen; and that, in the
meantime, you will give him any information in your power as to
what is going on, subject only to your friendship for Nana. Thus,
by making yourself useful to the Resident, you may prepare your way
for joining your countrymen and, at the same time, be able to
remain with Nana until either he is victorious over his enemies, or
his cause is really lost."

"The plan is an excellent one," Harry said, "and I will certainly
adopt it. Undoubtedly, the feeling among the English must be in
favour of Bajee Rao and Nana. As Bajee is the son of Rugoba, he is
their natural ally. Moreover, they would object most strongly to
see Scindia become master of the whole Mahratta power; which he
would probably use against them, at the first opportunity. It
would, as you say, greatly facilitate my obtaining a fair position
among the English; and I might also be able to do Nana a service.
Of course, I have seen the English Resident many times, in the
streets of Poona; and more than once, on special occasions, at
Mahdoo Rao's court. As it is his business to know something of all
connected with the palace, it is probable that he may have heard of
me; at any rate, it would be easier to explain to him my position,
than it would be to go down as a stranger to Bombay--where I should
be ignorant as to whom I should first approach, and how to declare
myself--a matter I have very often thought over."

The next morning the troop started at daybreak and, riding fast,
reached Poona by noon. Harry went at once to report what he had
seen to Nana.

"I received your letter yesterday," the minister said, "and the
news was indeed bad. Purseram Bhow has offered to go out to give
battle to Scindia, but my forces would have no chance: not only is
Scindia's army much larger, but he has the infantry regiments
commanded by foreign officers, and against these my infantry could
not prevail. It would be madness to risk fighting, under such
circumstances. The wheel may turn and, ere long, I may be in a
position to thwart the schemes of Scindia and Balloba."

N