, owing to your knowledge of the country and its
language, be told off for civil work, in which the emoluments are
very much higher than in the military branch of the service.
"You will at once be gazetted to the 3rd Native Cavalry, and do
duty with the regiment, until your services are required elsewhere.
Fresh disturbances may break out at Poona and, in that case, you
might be attached as assistant to Colonel Palmer.
"Do you think you would be known again?"
"I think it would be very unlikely, sir. When my skin has recovered
its proper colour, and I am dressed in uniform, I feel sure no one
would recognize me as having been an officer in the Peishwa's
court."
"Very well, sir. Then you will see your name in the gazette,
tomorrow. You will, within a day or so, report yourself to the
officer commanding the regiment.
"I may say that it would be well if your nurse, and the man who
came down with you, were to draw up statements concerning your
birth, and swear to them at the High Court. These might be valuable
to you, in the future."
After expressing his thanks to the Governor and Council, Harry went
out, and rode back to the hotel with Sufder.
Chapter 6: In The Company's Service.
There was no conversation between Harry and Sufder on the way back
to the hotel; Harry saying that he would tell the news when Soyera
joined them, otherwise he would have to go through it twice. They
rode slowly through the streets, and Soyera arrived a few minutes
after them.
"Now," Harry said, "we will go up to my room and talk the matter
over.
"Mr. Malet has been kind enough to give such a favourable report of
me that I am appointed lieutenant to the 3rd Regiment of Native
Cavalry, and shall be employed as assistant to the resident at
Poona, should there be fresh disturbances there."
"That is good fortune, indeed," Sufder said.
"Wonderfully good fortune! and I owe it all, in the first place to
Soyera, and in the next to yourself. You see, I have gained greatly
by taking your advice, and remaining in the Deccan until fit for
military service. Had she declared who I was when she took me down
to Bombay, before, there is no saying what might have become of me.
"And now, the first thing to do is for me to go out and order a
uniform. When I return I will draw up, in Mahratti and English, a
full account of the manner in which I was saved, by Soyera and you,
from being murdered; and how I have been brought up."
Ha
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