t least, very glad that he allows me a companion of my own
age, to whom I can talk freely."

"On all subjects, Your Highness, excepting state matters. Nana
presented me because I was ignorant of the court, and knew nothing
whatever of intrigues, and was not likely to take any part in them.
Therefore, Your Highness, I pray you but to speak upon ordinary
matters; be assured I am your devoted servant, but the courtiers
would grow suspicious, were you to talk of state matters with me.
These things speedily become known, and I should fall under Nana's
displeasure."

"Perhaps you are right," the Peishwa admitted, in a tone of
melancholy. "No doubt, whatever passes in this house is known to my
minister; and indeed, it is his duty to make himself so acquainted.
Still, I feel it hard that I should not have one friend to whom I
can speak."

"The time will come, Prince, when you will be able to do so and,
doubtless, there will be at hand those who will dare to have your
confidence."

The prince was silent but, after this, he abstained from any
remarks to Harry concerning the state. He had, indeed, for some
time been in correspondence with Bajee Rao, who had gained the
confidence of one of those appointed to look after him and, though
there was nothing save expressions of friendship on the part of
both princes, Nana was furious when he found out, from his spies,
what was going on.

The news came as a shock to the minister. Nana had been the
greatest enemy of the house of Rugoba; and the discovery of this
correspondence, and the friendship between the two young men, so
threatened his authority that, after ordering that Bajee Rao and
his brothers should be more strictly confined than before, he
visited the Peishwa and upbraided him bitterly for having entered
upon a friendship with the head of a party which had harassed his
family, and had brought innumerable troubles on the state. Then he
sent a message to Harry, bidding him to come, at once.

"How is it, Puntojee," he said sternly, "that you have altogether
failed to justify the faith I put in you, and have already assisted
Mahdoo Rao to enter into relations with my enemy, Bajee Rao?"

Harry was thunderstruck at this sudden attack.

"My lord, you must have been misinformed. I know nothing of any
such correspondence and, if it really went on, I think the Peishwa
would have taken me into his confidence."

"Do you mean to say that Mahdoo has not spoken to you about his
c