Clive explained. "The affair is too risky for me to trust
the ordinary service, and besides, from all I hear, you have made a
great impression on the Nabob, and may serve a useful purpose by
remaining in Moorshedabad for awhile. But I will tell you no more till
you are better able to hear it."

And with this, and many kind expressions about my health, he withdrew.

It did not take long for me to shake off the remains of my fever
under these circumstances, and the moment I was able to go out of the
house where I lay, I went to wait on my patron.

Colonel Clive received me in his private room in the fort, and
dismissing everybody else, opened to me the nature of the mission
entrusted to me. The late proceedings of his enemies against him in
Parliament have made this business so notorious to the world that I
shall be excused for expressing it very shortly in this place.

To be brief, the Colonel informed me that the moment for our
long-delayed vengeance upon the wicked and bloodthirsty Surajah Dowlah
was at length arrived. Tired with his cruelties, his own subjects had
cast about for a means of getting rid of him, and overtures had been
received from the principal men of the Nabob's Court inviting Colonel
Clive to take part in a concerted scheme for his overthrow. A treaty
had been drawn up between the parties, whereby it was provided that
Colonel Clive should march against the Nabob's army with his whole
force, now increased by the arrival of other ships from the Coromandel
coast, and should be joined on the battle-field by Meer Jaffier, who
undertook to desert from his nephew and bring over the part of the
army under his command to the English side. In return for these
services, supposing the victory should be obtained, the Company was to
receive a crore of rupees in compensation for the injuries inflicted
by the Nabob, while many millions were to be divided among Colonel
Clive, the gentlemen of the Council and the officers and men of both
services. Surajah Dowlah was to be deposed from the musnud, and his
uncle, Meer Jaffier, elevated in his stead, the Meer binding himself
to pay these sums out of the Nabob's treasure, and the payment being
further guaranteed by Jugget Seet, the great banker of Moorshedabad,
whose connexions extended over all parts of Indostan.

This treaty having been signed and executed by Colonel Clive and the
other gentlemen of the Company, he now required me to carry it to
Moorshedabad, were