But the natives did not budge from their post. Only, as the angry lady flung open one of the folding doors, they closed together and barred the way with their pikes. Accustomed to absolute subservience from her own peons, Mrs. Merriman saw at once that insistence was useless. If these men did not obey instantly they would not obey at all. "I cannot fight them," she said, again turning back. "The wretches! If only your father were here!" "Or Mr. Burke," said Phyllis. "Oh, how I wish he had come with us!" "Wishing is no use, my dear. I vow the Frenchman shall pay dearly for this insolence. We must make the best of it." Meanwhile Monsieur de Bonnefon had gone down to the ghat. But he did not send a messenger to Chandernagore as he had promised. He told the jamadar, in Urdu, that his mistress and the chota bibi would remain at his house for the night. They feared another accident if they should proceed in the darkness. He bade the man bring his party to the house, where they would all find accommodation until the morning. In the small hours of that night there was a short sharp scuffle in the servants’ quarters. The Merriman boatmen and peons were set upon by a score of sturdy men who promptly roped them together and, hauling them down to the ghat and into a boat, rowed them up to Hugli. There they were thrown into the common prison. In the morning a charge of dacoity[#] was laid against them. The story was that they had been apprehended in the act of breaking into the house of Monsieur Sinfray. Plenty of witnesses were forthcoming to give evidence against them; such can be purchased outside any cutcherry[#] in India for a few rupees. The men were convicted. Some were given a choice between execution and service in the Nawab’s army; others were sentenced off-hand to a term of imprisonment, and these considered themselves lucky in escaping with their lives. In vain they protested their innocence and pleaded that a messenger might be sent to Calcutta; the Nawab was known to be so much incensed against the English that the fact of their being Company’s servants availed them nothing. [#] Gang robbery. [#] Court-house.