'  I  beg  to  represent,'  said  he,  '  that  Nizam  Ali  Khan  is
favourable  to  the  Sircar — entirely  favourable.  The  English
pressed  him  to  give  up  the  province  of  Guntoor,  which  he  is
bound  to  do  by  treaty ;  but  he  is  unwilling  (and  no  wonder)  to
comply ;  things  have  advanced  to  almost  a  quarrel  between  them,
and  if  he  was  sure  of  the  feeling  of  this  Sircar,  I  would  pledge
my  life  on  it  that  he  would  declare  war  to-morrow,  and  thus  the

*  Wonderful  1  wonderful  I  a  miracle  I  a  miracle  1


aoo  TIPPOO  SULTAUN.
two  Sircars  could  fight  under  the  banner  of  Islam,  and  exter-
minate the  unbelievers.  But,  Inshalla  !  there  will  be  more  proof
than  my  poor  words ;  for  I  heard  from  good  authority  that  the
Huzoor  was  about  to  select  an  ambassador,  a  man  of  tact  and
knowledge,  who  will  explain  all  his  wishes  satisfactorily.'

•  An  ambassador  !  sayest  thou.  Khan  ?  By  Alia,  rare  news !
He  is  then  in  earnest,  and  with  his  aid  what  may  not  be  done  ?
he  can  bring  a  lakh  of  men — cavalry  too — into  the  field,  and  he
has  infantry  besides.  Alia  grant  he  may  come  soon !  let  us  only
chastise  these  infidel  Nairs,  and  thus  make  a  step  towards  the
extermination  of  unbelief  from  Hind.  Let  the  Durbaa:  be  cloSed !'
he  cried  suddenly  and  abruptly  after  a  short  silence ;  and  rising,
he  retired  into  one  of  the  smaller  rooms,  where,  alone,  he
meditated  over  those  wild  schemes  of  conquest  which  were
eventually  his  ruin.
