The Colonel turned to Mr. Scrafton and laughed.
“There’s my little purser all over!” he exclaimed, with evident goodwill. “The French are beaten, and driven out of Bengal, I trust for ever, and their factories are become ours. And since you were unable to be present at the action, and to share in the spoil, I have remembered my promise to you, and brought you a sword instead.”
He took the weapon from the hands of Mr. Scrafton, who was carrying it, and laid it on the bed beside me. At the same time Mr. Scrafton handed me a paper, duly signed, containing my commission as an ensign in the service of the East India Company.
I could only murmur out my gratitude for these marks of consideration; while Mr. Clive went on to say—
“And now you must make haste and get about again, for as soon as you are able to travel I have an important mission for you to discharge.”
“And what is that, sir?” I asked, not very heartily.
The Colonel noticed my diffidence, and gave me a searching look.
“I ought to have said it is a very dangerous mission,” he observed.
I felt my cheeks turn red.
“Then sir, I think I am well enough to undertake it,” I replied, with some little temper. And I sat up in the bed.