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He looked round at his courtiers, and there was a murmur of admiration at his sagacity. "Your Highness is mistaken," I said, keeping cool. "I learned the Indostanee language on my way out to the East Indies, from the secretary of Colonel Clive." As I pronounced this name I saw a movement among those present.
I inquired for Colonel Clive, and was quickly brought to the door of his tent, where my kind friend Mr. Scrafton came out to speak to me. I was on the point of offering him my hand, but observing that he had no suspicions as to who it was I merely told him in Indostanee that I came from Moorshedabad, with a message from the Meer Jaffier, and suffered him to bring me in to Mr. Clive.
Scrafton, who was well versed in the Indostanee, and who was obliging enough to offer to impart it to me, I having rendered him some services in the transcribing of his papers and accounts. Having much time on my hands on so long a voyage, I very thankfully accepted his proposal, though little then foreseeing the benefit I was to derive from it.
On our entrance it moved and just raised its head. "What do you want?" it asked in Indostanee. And then in English it breathed, "Is this the end?" It was the voice of my cousin Rupert! With a cry, I was on my knees by his side, lifting his woeful head in my arms. "Rupert! Look! It is your cousin Athelstane!" He moved slowly and sat up. Then a shudder went through his attenuated frame.
I needed no more to convince me that this was most likely the man whom I had been employed to apprehend. Not daring to speak English, and it being useless to address him in the Indostanee, I made signs that he should follow me, and commenced to row to the shore. But here I was disappointed, for the fellow, instead of following me, at once began to move off in the opposite direction.
I found this likewise to be deserted, and was beginning to think the vessel was empty when, on turning to come out, I found myself face to face with a dark man in a turban, bearing a naked scymetar in his hand, who had crept in behind me. "Who are you?" I demanded, addressing him in Indostanee.
On my entrance he spoke to me rather peremptorily "You are Mr. Ford, are you not?" I nodded. "I am told that you speak the Indostanee language. Is that so?" "Yes, sir," I said. "Mr. Holwell and Mr. Byng are aware of it." "Very good." He nodded his head once or twice. "Those gentlemen have recommended you to the Council as a discreet, intelligent young man, which I do not doubt you are.
He stepped towards me and said, in such Indostanee as he could command "Silence, wretch! Sabat Jung is in the Carnatic, nor would he dare to come into Bengal without the permission of the Lord of the English, Surajah Dowlah. When he hears of the conquest of Cossimbuzar and Fort William the heart of Sabat Jung will become as water." I gave him a scornful look.
All this time I had preserved my self-control very well, but when this cry for water was raised, either the excessive pain I endured, or else the mere example of so many persons around me, so shook me that I could no longer command my motions, and I found myself screaming the words in Indostanee at the old Jemautdar as though I would have torn him in pieces.
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