ey may become the masters of all India.
Were I to say as much to any of our princes, they would scoff at my
prediction; but it has been my business to learn what was passing
elsewhere, and I have agents at Madras and Calcutta, and their
reports are ever that the power of the English is increasing. A few
years ago, it seemed that the French were going to carry all before
them; but they, like our native princes, have gone down before the
English; who seem, moreover, to get on better than the French with
the natives, and to win their respect and liking.

"Well, young sir, I shall be sorry to lose you; because while I, and
with good reason, was seldom able to trust, and to give my absolute
confidence to any of those around me, I have always felt that I could
wholly rely on you. During the past year I have seen much of you, and
have freely told my plans to you, as I have done to no others; and
have chosen you for missions that I could not, with safety, have
entrusted to any of my own followers, knowing that Scindia or Holkar
would be ready to pay great sums for these secrets. None except Bajee,
to whom I sent you with particulars, were aware of the extent of my
plans, or that I was in communication with more than one of the rajahs.

"You have played your part marvellously well, for I should not have
deemed it possible that one of your race could live so long among
us, without exciting any suspicion. While you remain in Bombay, I
hope that you will act as my confidential agent. I do not ask you
to divulge any secrets you may learn, relating to projects
connected with the Deccan; but I should like to be informed as to
the course of affairs, generally. Of course, my dealings with the
Council there must be carried on through the English Resident; but
there is much information respecting the views of the Council with
regard to Tippoo, the Nizam, and Bengal, that will be valuable for
me to know."

"I could not so act, your excellency, without permission from the
Council; but I should imagine that they would not be averse to such
an arrangement, especially as, perhaps, you would give me private
information as to the state of parties, here, such as you would not
care to tell their Resident."

"Certainly I would do so. They change their Residents so frequently
that it would be impossible for new men to really understand the
situation; which you, with your intimate knowledge of Poona, could
readily grasp. Of course the arrangemen