it was to be sworn to by Jugget Seet, the Meer
Jaffier, and the other high officers of the Court who were parties to
the design. At the same time he enjoined on me to observe the utmost
secrecy.

"Remember," he said, "that if once Surajah Dowlah or his minion Lal
Moon should get an inkling of this plot, his rage would break loose
against every one concerned in it. As it is Mr. Watts has had great
difficulty in lulling his suspicions, and has several times been in
great peril. But I suppose you are not the man to shrink back on that
account."

"Give me the treaty, sir," I replied, "and I undertake to carry it to
Moorshedabad. Am I to deliver it into Mr. Watts's hands?"

"Why, yes; that is, if you find him still there when you arrive. But
you must use the greatest caution in communicating with him. Above
all, beware of the Gentoo Omichund, who has already once threatened to
betray us. We have been obliged to provide a duplicate treaty to
satisfy him, in which is included a stipulation for three millions of
rupees to be paid to him on our success. But you will explain to Meer
Jaffier that this is merely a trick to which we have been obliged by
Omichund's knavery. He shall not have a farthing."

Mr. Clive spoke these words very sternly. At the same time he handed
me the two treaties, one drawn up upon white paper and the other on
red.

"The red treaty is the one to be shown to Omichund," he explained.
"Both must be executed by the parties to the conspiracy in
Moorshedabad, but only the white one is to be sworn to. Do you
understand?"

"Perfectly, sir."

I rolled up the two papers and put them into my pocket. I did not then
feel, nor have I since been able to understand, all the indignation
which has been poured on Lord Clive's head for this artifice, by which
a treacherous, overreaching scoundrel was robbed of the blackmail he
had tried to extort. As to the charge which has been made against that
great man of having caused Admiral Watson's name to be forged to the
second treaty, I can only say that it was the general opinion at the
time that the gallant Admiral was fully aware of what was being done,
and, since he took no steps to restrain the use of his name, it
appears to be all the same as though he had affixed it with his own
hand.

However, it is not my intention to dwell upon these disputes, to which
I am only induced to refer by a spirit of loyalty to my old commander
and friend, for such he permitted me