d
by Ania on foot, for three months, during which he often met Mr.
Fraser, but never under circumstances favourable to his purpose; and
at last, in despair, returned to Firozpur. Ania, had importuned him
for leave to go home to see his children, who had been ill, and Karim
Khan did not like to remain without him. The Nawab was displeased
with him for returning without leave, and ordered him to return to
his post, and effect the object of his mission. Ania declined to
return, and the Nawab recommended Karim to take somebody else, but he
had, he said, explained all his designs to this man, and it would be
dangerous to entrust the secret to another; and he could, moreover,
rely entirely upon the courage of Ania on any trying occasion.

Twenty rupees were due to the treasury by Ania on account of the rent
of the little tenement he held under the Nawab; and the treasurer
consented, at the request of Karim Khan, to receive this by small
instalments, to be deducted out of the monthly wages he was to
receive from him. He was, moreover, assured that he should have
nothing to do but to cook and eat; and should share liberally with
Karim in the one hundred rupees he was taking with him in money, and
the letter of credit upon the Nawab's bankers at Delhi for one
thousand rupees more. The Nawab himself came with them as far as the
village of Nagina, where he used to hunt; and there Karim requested
permission to change his groom, as he thought Rupla too shrewd a man
for such a purpose. He wanted, he said, a stupid, sleepy man, who
would neither ask nor understand anything; but the Nawab told him
that Rupla was an old and quiet servant, upon whose fidelity he could
entirely rely; and Karim consented to take him. Ania's little
tenement, upon which his wife and children resided, was only two
miles distant, and he went to give instructions about gathering in
the harvest, and to take leave of them. He told his wife that he was
going to the capital on a difficult and dangerous duty, but that his
companion Karim would do it all, no doubt. Ania asked Karim before
they left Nagina what was to be his reward; and he told him that the
Nawab had promised them five villages in rent-free tenure. Ania
wished to learn from the Nawab himself what he might expect; and
being taken to him by Karim, was assured that he and his family
should be provided for handsomely for the rest of their lives, if he
did his duty well on this occasion.

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