itting at the time. He entered with his usual undaunted
air, not at all abashed by finding himself in the presence of so august
an assembly.

On being asked what information he brought, he doffed his hat, and
replied--

"Please your worships, I am sent by my master, the young Rajah of
Allahapoor--as he now is, seeing that his grandfather, the old rajah,
has ordered him to tack that title to his name--to tell your worships
that the rascally natives have determined, if they can get the chance,
to cut the throats of every mother's son among the English, on the first
opportunity. It may be soon or it may be some time hence, but he thinks
it as well that you should be warned, and be prepared for whatever may
happen."

Dick then gave verbatim Reginald's message; after which he was directed
to retire, while the members held a consultation on the extraordinary
information they had received.

The next day Dick was ordered to return, and to inform his master that
the Council would pay due attention to the warning he had been good
enough to send them.

We must now go back to Reginald. While encamped next day at noon, the
expected reinforcements from the city arrived, with a despatch from the
rajah telling him that he was very ill, and urging him to advance
without delay. It was his wish that his grandson should enter the city
in due state, to produce an impression on the population. Reginald had
therefore, against his own inclination, to don a still richer costume
than he had yet appeared in; and with a body of officers and guards
walking on either side of him, and Burnett's troopers following on
horseback, he prepared to enter the city. The ranee, no longer looked
upon as a chief personage, sat concealed in a howdah on the back of an
elephant towards the rear of the procession. The vast crowd assembled
filled the air with their acclamations; and had not Reginald been well
acquainted with the state of affairs, he might have supposed himself the
popular ruler of a happy and loyal people. He very well knew, however,
that any one of the nobles and guards surrounding him would be ready, at
a convenient opportunity, to send a bullet through his head, or give him
a cup of poison; and that the populace, now shouting his praises, would
with equal delight drag his mangled body through the streets, should a
rival succeed in deposing him. His satisfaction at the exalted position
he had so unexpectedly obtained was, therefore,