seen the sea before. I think that, probably, he will remain
for two or three years with his troop of two hundred men; and will
then settle in the village, of which and the surrounding country he
has received the jagheer. This, although not large, will suffice
for him to live in comfort. It is but a few miles from Jooneer, and
he will therefore be able to be near his friends, and pay frequent
visits to his cousin Ramdass."

In a short time Harry became a general favourite, and made the
acquaintance of the officers of all the regiments in the garrison;
for his romantic story speedily circulated and, before he had been
a fortnight in the city, he had received invitations to dine at all
their messes.

After the exciting life he had led, for two years, he felt, on
being released from drill, that life in a garrison town was dull
and monotonous. The simple habits, in which he had been brought up,
did not help him to enjoy heavy meals at regimental mess.
Occasionally he and two or three other officers crossed to the
mainland, and had some shooting in the wild district of the Concan.
But he was pleased when he received an order, from the Governor, to
call upon him.

"Colonel Palmer," he said, "has written, requesting me to send him
an assistant; as matters do not seem to be going on well at Poona.
He suggested that you, from your acquaintance with the people and
their intrigues, should be selected for the post but, even had he
not done so, I should have chosen you, as being better fitted for
it than any other officer here.

"Your instructions are simple. You will watch, and endeavour to
penetrate the schemes of the various factions, and assist Colonel
Palmer generally."

"Am I to go up in my uniform, sir; or to wear a disguise, similar
to that in which I came down here?"

"That is a matter over which I have been thinking. I have come to
the conclusion that you will be more likely to obtain intelligence
in native garb. All parties look with jealousy upon us, and would
be chary of giving any information to an officer of the Residency;
and therefore, if you have no objection, we think that it will be
an advantage to you to assume native dress. Of course, you could
not go in the attire that you came down in for, although you would
not be recognized in uniform, you would, if dressed as before.

"I would rather leave that matter entirely to you, and also the
manner in which you can proceed. You must also decide, for
yoursel