ed it
necessary to imitate his example, and that of Scindia, by raising a
similar force. Your communications, therefore, have been of real
value, and have saved a large outlay here; but even had it not been
so, there can be no question of your returning your pay. You
undertook certain work, and you have to the best of your powers
carried it out; and it is not because you consider that the
information you sent me is not sufficiently valuable that you have,
in any way, failed to carry out your part of the contract.

"I consider it of very great value. In the first place because, as
I have said, it relieved me from anxiety as to the Nizam's
intentions of increasing his army; and in the second place, it
eased my mind by showing that neither Scindia nor Holkar was
intriguing with Bombay, which knowledge is worth a crore of rupees
to me.

"It is the first time, sir, since I have taken part in politics,
that anyone has offered to return money he has received on the
ground that he had not sufficiently earned it; or indeed, upon any
other ground, whatever. Your doing so has confirmed my opinion of
the honesty of your people, and I would that such a feeling were
common among my countrymen, here. No negotiations can be carried
on, no alliance can be formed, without a demand for a large sum of
money, or for an addition of territory. All our petty wars are
waged, not on a question of principle, but entirely from greed.

"Let us say no more about it. I am, as of course you have heard, a
very wealthy man; and have so distributed my money among the
shroffs of all India that, whatever may happen here, I shall lose
comparatively little; and I am glad to know that some very small
portion of it goes to one whom I regard as a genuine friend, and
who does not draw a tenth part of what many of those around me
accept, without any consideration given for it."

"Thank you, sir, but--at any rate while I am stationed here, as
Assistant Resident--I cannot continue to receive pay from you. I
should regard it as a disgraceful action, and absolutely
incompatible with my duty."

"Well, so far I will humour you, Mr. Lindsay; though from what I
hear, in the Carnatic and Bengal the British officers, civil and
military, do not hesitate to accept large sums from native
princes."

Harry was well aware that this was so, and that many British
officials had amassed considerable fortunes, by gifts from native
sources. He only replied:

"That is a mat