"Everything is wrong. Alivirdi died a fortnight ago; Siraj-uddaula has stepped into his shoes; and Drake has made a mess of everything, with Manningham’s and Frankland’s assistance. I want you to come and dine with me this evening; we must have a serious talk; I’ve asked two or three men of our sort in anticipation of your consent." "Very well. Let me present my friend Mr. Burke. He escaped from Gheria; you’ve heard that Colonel Clive captured the place?" "Yes; we had despatches from Admiral Watson some days ago. I have heard of Mr. Burke’s adventures; your servant, sir; I am delighted to meet you. Well, Merriman, three o’clock; I will not detain you now; you’ll want to get home." Mr. Merriman’s bearers were at hand with his palanquin; he got into it; the men set off at a swinging pace, warning the bystanders with their cry of "Tok! Tok!" and Desmond walked by the side of the chair, amused to watch the self-important airs of the peon who went in front. They passed the Fort and the Company’s house, and arrived at length at a two-storey flat-roofed house with a veranda, the windows filled, not with oyster shells as at Bombay, but with thin screens of reeds. "Here we are," said Merriman with a sigh of relief "Now I’ll hand you over to the baniya[#]; he’ll show you to your room. I’m vexed that my wife is not here; of course she didn’t know when to expect me; and Mrs. Watts is an old friend of hers. ’Tis a relief in one way; for Mr. Watts is a shrewd fellow--he’s head of our factory at Cossimbazar, and senior member of Council here--and he would have sent the ladies away if he scented danger. Sorry I shall have to leave you; I must dine with Mr. Holwell; he’s our zamindar--judge of the Cutcheri court and collector of taxes: a fine fellow, the most cool-headed man on the Council. But the khansaman will give you something to eat: and I’ll be back as soon as I can. You can take it easy on the veranda, and you’ll find a hookah if you care to try it." [#] Factotum. "No, thanks," said Desmond with a smile; "I’ve no fancy that way." Shortly afterwards Mr. Merriman left the house in his palanquin, wearing the short white calico jacket that was then _de rigueur_ at dinner parties. It was late before he returned. There was an anxious and worried look on his face, but he said cheerily: "Well, how have you been getting on?" "I’ve been reading, sir: I found a volume of Mr. Fielding’s _Amelia_, and ’twas a change to read after eighteen months without setting eyes on a book. I hope you had a good dinner."