ing, when it began to be dusk, the door of my cell
was suddenly opened, and the gaolers ushered in a person closely
veiled and disguised, who, as soon as we were left alone, removed the
wrappings from his face and showed himself to be none other than the
Meer Jaffier in person.

"My son," he said to me, regarding me with a look of some concern,
"there has this day arrived at the palace a messenger from Monichund,
who brings tidings that Sabat Jung, with a great armament of ships and
men, has arrived in the mouth of the Hooghley, breathing vengeance
against our lord Surajah Dowlah. And this news has so infuriated him
against the whole English nation that, unless you can contrive to get
away from Moorshedabad to-night you are like to forfeit your life on
the morrow."

Now whether this distinguished Moor was moved to this action by
gratitude for my former service to him, or whether, as some of my
friends think, he was already aiming at the treaty into which he
afterwards entered with the English, and therefore wished to show his
good will to us; yet of this I am sure, that he preserved my life on
this night, an action for which I must always hold him in grateful
remembrance. Under his directions I collected together my property,
consisting chiefly of the gems which the Nabob had given me, and which
I secreted on my person. He then brought me out of the prison, past
the gaolers, whom he had bribed and dismissed, and took me by a back
way to his own house. Here I found the beautiful white horse he had
given me, which was named Ali, ready saddled and bridled for a
journey. I had for some months been accustomed to wear the Moorish
dress, so that I wanted nothing in the shape of disguise, save another
application of my cousin Rupert's paint, which was not to be had.

"Mount," said the Meer, "and I will myself ride with you as far as the
gate of the city and see you safely on your way."

Accordingly he had his own horse made ready, a small, powerful, black
mare, like a jennet, and on this led the way through the streets of
the city, now nearly empty, to the southern gate. As we rode along
together he gave me advice as to how I should proceed.

"You may now pass well enough among the Mahometans," he said, "for you
have learned a good deal of our manners, and if you had been willing
to forsake your degrading idolatry, and embrace the true worship of
Allah, you might have attained to a high position among us. But now
you are