his sister, Reginald felt convinced; therefore, as soon as the necessary
ceremonies had been gone through in receiving the officers of the
newly-arrived troops, Reginald ordered that Khan Cochut and the slave
should be brought before him. The only person present besides Burnett
was Buxsoo, on whose judgment and acuteness Reginald knew that he could
rely to elicit the truth from the slave, if not from Cochut, who was not
at all likely to confess it unless from dire necessity. Both were
subjected to a close cross-examination; and Buxsoo also examined them,
in a way worthy of an English lawyer. Reginald, indeed, felt convinced
that they had been instrumental in blowing up the fort. The slave
pleaded that he had to obey the commands of his master, who was probably
destroyed; while Cochut, who had no such excuse to offer, exhibited the
most abject fear, and offered to give information of the greatest
importance, provided his life was spared and his property secured to
him. He declined, however, doing so in the presence of Buxsoo.

"You may say anything before him without fear of being betrayed,"
answered Reginald; "I am responsible for his fidelity. And if I find
that the information you give is not perfectly correct, I shall leave
you to the fate you deserve; but if, on the contrary, it is of the
consequence you state, I will undertake that you shall be allowed to go,
with all your wealth, ill-gotten as I am afraid it has been."

After much hesitation, Cochut declared that the natives throughout the
greater part of the country were ripe for rebellion against the English,
and all who favoured their rule; that the rajah had been especially
marked out for destruction, because he was evidently attached to the
Feringhees; and that before long it was hoped that they might be driven
out of the country.

Again and again Cochut protested that what he said was correct.
Reginald appealed to Buxsoo, who acknowledged that the statement made by
Cochut was probably too true. He himself had had his suspicions aroused
for some time, but he had not as yet gained sufficient information to
enable him to warn the authorities.

Reginald consulted with Burnett, and they agreed that they were bound at
all events to warn the authorities at Calcutta as soon as possible, and
also to let Colonel Ross know what they had heard. The difficulty was,
to find a messenger who could be trusted. Burnett was unwilling to go,
for he felt that his pr