went back to
the ship, which next day sailed for that town.

On arriving there he presented himself at the Government House and,
on sending in his name, was in a short time shown in to Lord
Mornington's private room.

"I am glad that you have come, Captain Lindsay," the latter said.
"I wish that you had been here sooner."

"I came by the first ship, sir, after the Governor of Bombay
received your letter but, owing to contrary winds, we have been
nearly two months on the voyage. I landed for an hour at Madras
and, hearing that you had returned here, I hesitated whether to
come to you for orders, or to join General Harris at Vellore; but I
thought it better to come on, and so again embarked on the ship,
which has only just anchored."

"You were quite right, sir, for it was an agent rather than a
soldier that I required. I own that I thought the Governor would
have sent an older man."

"I am the bearer of this letter from him. I believe that in it he
gives his reasons for the honour he did me, in selecting me for the
post."

"I will look through it, presently," Lord Mornington said; "and if
you will dine with me here, I shall then have read it, and shall be
able to decide where you can be employed to the best advantage."

The dinner was a quiet one, only the officers of the Governor
General's suite being present. The Governor received Harry with
much more cordiality than he had evinced at their first interview,
and introduced him to his officers, with the expression that
Captain Lindsay had done very valuable service in the Deccan.
Little allusion was made to business, until the other officers had
left, when Lord Mornington said:

"I have read the Governor of Bombay's letter, and am convinced that
he could have made no better choice than he has done. He speaks of
you in the highest terms, and has given me a slight sketch of your
story, and a fuller one of the manner in which you obtained the
release of Nana Furnuwees. I learn that Nana has always been
considered our friend; although we have not been able to give him
the support that we could wish, as this would have entailed war
with the Mahrattas, which Bombay is in no position to undertake.
Nevertheless, his release will doubtless, to some extent,
counterbalance the duplicity of the Peishwa who, while lavish in
his promises to us, is receiving money from Tippoo; and will
undoubtedly, unless restrained by Nana, openly espouse his cause,
should he gain any su