midday
Just after midnight the little party set out . A march of some four hours brought them to the outskirts of Murshidabad . Desmond called a halt , encamped for the remainder of the night in a grove of palmyras , and at dawn sent forward one of the Sepoys , disguised as a ryot , to make inquiries as to what was happening in the town . It was near midday when the man returned . He reported that the Nawab had gone to his palace , while the chiefs who had accompanied or followed him from the field of battle had shown their recognition that his cause was lost by deserting him and going to their own houses . He had heard nothing of the French . The Nawab , in order to ingratiate himself with the people , had thrown open his treasury , from which all and sundry were carrying off what they pleased .