ut his old friend's release. In the
morning he said to the Resident:

"I have been thinking over what you said last night, Colonel, and
with your permission I am resolved to make an attempt to bring
about Nana's release."

"But how on earth do you mean to proceed, Mr. Lindsay?"

"My plans are not quite made up yet, sir. In the first place, I
shall ask you to give me three weeks' leave so that, if I fail, you
can make it evident that you are not responsible for my
undertaking. In the next place, I shall endeavour to see Nana in
his prison, and ascertain from him whether he can pay a
considerable sum to Scindia for his release. If I find that he is
in a position to do so, I shall then--always, of course, in
disguise--endeavour to have a private interview with Scindia, and
to convince him that it is in every way to his interest to allow
Nana to ransom himself. He is, of course, perfectly well aware
that, in spite of Bajee's assurances of friendship, he is at heart
bitterly opposed to him; and that the return of Nana, with the
powers he before possessed, would neutralize the Peishwa's power."

"It would be an excellent thing, if that could be done," the colonel
said; "but it appears to me to be an absolute impossibility."

"I would rather not tell you how I intend to act, sir; so that, in
case of failure, you can disavow all knowledge of my proceedings."

"Well, since you are willing to undertake the risk, and
unquestionably the Bombay Government would see, with great
pleasure, Nana's return to power, I will throw no obstacle in your
way. You had better, to begin with, write me a formal request for a
month's leave to go down to Bombay. Is there anything else that I
can do, to aid your project?"

"Nothing, whatever; and I am much obliged to you for acceding to my
request. If for no other reason than that my success should have
the effect of releasing the inhabitants of Poona, from the horrible
tyranny to which they are exposed, I shall be willing to risk a
great deal to gain it.

"I shall not leave for a day or two, as I wish to think over all
the details of my plan, before I set about carrying it out."

Going into the city, Harry went to the spot where the proclamations
of Scindia were always affixed. These were of various kinds; such
as forbidding anyone carrying arms to be in the streets after
nightfall; and that every inhabitant should furnish an account of
his income, in order that taxation should be careful