But what are you going for? Will you travel as an officer?"

"No, I shall be in disguise. It seems that things are unsettled;
and I am, if possible, to find out the intentions of the various
leaders, and communicate them privately to our Resident. I shall
have to take to dyeing my skin again, which is a nuisance, but it
cannot be helped. I shall take with me three or four different
disguises, and get you to do the shopping for me. I wish to have
them by this evening, as I shall start in the morning, early.

"I shall get leave to take my soldier servant, Abdool, with me. He
is a sharp fellow, and may be useful. I shall have to buy a pony
for him."

"What sort of disguises do you want?"

"One is that of a native soldier."

"That is easy enough, as it differs but little from the ordinary
Mahratta's dress."

"One would certainly be the attire of a trader, in good
circumstances. I can't think, at present, of any other."

"I should say the dress of a Brahmin might be useful," Soyera
suggested.

"Yes, that would give me an entry, unquestioned, to Nana, or to any
other person of importance."

By nightfall, Soyera had bought the three disguises, and obtained
from a native dyer a supply of stain sufficient for a long time;
and Harry had purchased two useful ponies, for himself and his
servant.

At mess, that evening, the colonel said:

"So you are going to leave us, for a time, Mr. Lindsay. I have
received a letter, from the Governor, requesting me to put you in
orders, tomorrow, as seconded from the regiment for civil
employment. I won't ask you where you are going. That is no
business of ours. But I am sure I can say, in the name of my
officers as well as myself, that we shall all miss you, very much."

A murmur of acquiescence passed round the table and, seeing that
Harry, in thanking the colonel, made no allusion to what he was
going to do, they followed the example of their superior officer,
and abstained from asking any questions.

"I should like to take my man, Abdool, with me, Colonel," Harry
said, later on. "He is a sharp fellow, and I might find him very
useful."

"By all means. I will tell the adjutant that I have allowed him to
go with you."

"I am not going in uniform, nor are you to do so," Harry said to
Abdool, when he returned to his tent. "I am going in Mahratta
dress, and I shall take a lodging in the town, and pass as a
native. I know, Abdool, that you are a sharp fellow, and feel
certain