u not?"

"Not so well, sir; but as you know I have, during the six months
that I was at Bombay, and since I have been here, used most of my
spare time working up Hindustani, with a moonshee."

"I am glad to hear it, for I received a letter from the Governor,
this morning, saying that Lord Mornington has requested him to send
an officer, thoroughly acquainted with Mahratti and with some
knowledge of the people; and that he has selected you for the
service, as being by far better fitted than anyone he knows for the
appointment. A knowledge of Hindustani will, of course, be very
useful to you; but Mahratti is the principal thing, as he is
intending to open negotiations with the Mahrattas, as well as with
the Nizam, to induce them to join in concerted action against
Tippoo.

"He says that no vessel will be sailing for Calcutta for less than
a month, so you can stay here for a few days, and see how your
scheme works out. It will be a great step for you, and ensure you
rapid promotion."

"I am indeed obliged to the Governor for selecting me," Harry said,
"and will do my best to justify his confidence."

Two days later, Nana Furnuwees was brought to Scindia's camp--news
which caused Bajee Rao intense consternation. He at once sent off,
to open negotiations with the Nizam for common action, offering a
considerable amount of territory for his assistance.

Colonel Palmer rode over the next morning to Scindia's camp, and
found that Scindia had demanded three millions of rupees as the
price of Nana's release, and appointment as minister to the
Peishwa. Nana had protested his absolute inability to raise
anything like that sum, but had offered five hundred thousand
rupees.

"I can quite believe that he could not pay the sum Scindia
demands," the colonel said, on his return; "and when Scindia sees
that he would rather return to prison than attempt impossibilities,
he will come down in his demands, and Nana will go up in his offer.
It is a mere question of bargaining."

When Scindia heard of the step that Bajee Rao had taken, he was
greatly alarmed; for he could hardly hope to withstand the Nizam's
army, and that which Bajee himself could raise; and he therefore
materially lowered his demands, and finally accepted Nana's offer
of nine hundred thousand rupees. This arrangement being made, he
permitted Nana to leave the camp in order to raise the money;
receiving his solemn oath that, if he failed to do so, he would
return a