one, to
support me against the united power of Scindia and Holkar, backed
by that of the Peishwa.

"There is but one direction in which I could seek for help--namely,
from the Government of Bombay--but even this, were it given, would
scarcely avail much against the power of my enemies. And even were
I sure that it could do so, I would not call it in. My aim, through
life, has been to uphold the power of the Peishwa, and to lessen
that of Scindia and Holkar and, by playing one against the other,
to avert the horrors of civil war. Were I to call in the aid of the
English, I should be acting in contradiction to the principles that
I have ever held.

"The arrival of a force of English, here, would at once unite the
whole of the Mahrattas against them, as it did when last they
ascended the Ghauts; and believing as I do in their great valour
and discipline, which has been amply shown by the conduct of
Scindia's infantry, which are mainly officered by Europeans, it is
beyond belief that they can withstand the whole power of the
Mahratta empire. But granting that they might do so, what would be
the result? I should see my country shaken to the centre, the
capital in the hands of strangers, and to what end? Simply that I,
an old and worn-out man should, for a very few years, remain in
power here. It would be necessary for those who placed me there to
remain as my guardians, and I should be a mere cypher in their
hands. Nothing, therefore, would persuade me to seek English aid to
retain me in power."

"But the English would doubtless act in alliance with the Nizam,
and probably with the Rajahs of Berar and Kolapoore."

"Possibly they might do so, but what would be the result? Each of
these leaders would, in return for his aid, bargain for increased
territory, at the expense of the Peishwa; and I, who believe that I
am trusted by the great mass of the people here, should become an
object of execration at having brought the invaders into our
country.

"No, Mr. Lindsay; my enemies can, and I believe will, capture me
and throw me into prison. They will scarcely take my life, for to
do so would excite a storm of indignation; but I always carry
poison about with me and, if they applied torture as a preliminary
to death, I have the power of releasing myself from their hands.

"Are you established at the Residency?"

"No, sir; I am living in disguises, of which I have several, in the
town. In that way, I can better discover wh