"How was it that you were alone, last night?"
"I had ridden to Agra, the day before; and was too late, in starting back, to gain the camp before it was dark. I lost my way and, finding that we were in the heart of the morass, we were obliged to wait till morning."
"It is well that you did not try to get out. Had you done so, none of you would be here now.
"You speak Mahratti like a native."
"I was some years at Poona and, as a child, had a Mahratta woman as a nurse, and learnt it from her."
The rajah was silent for a minute or two, then he asked:
"Does your general think that he is going to capture my town?"
"I do not know, but he is going to try."
"He will not succeed," the rajah said, positively. "We gave up Deeg, because we did not want a large force shut up there. Our walls are strong but, were they levelled to the ground, we would still defend the place to the last."
"I am aware that your people are brave, Rajah. They fought well, indeed; and if Holkar's troops had fought as stoutly, the result might have been different."