him I would not listen to reason, and that I demanded to speak to him.  ‘Well, let him come,’ said the Nawab, ‘but he must come alone.’  At the same time he asked Mr. Watts to withdraw and wait for him in a cabinet.  The order to appear being given me, I wish to go—­another difficulty!  The officers with me do not wish to let me go alone!  A great debate between them and the Nawab’s officers!  At last, giving way to my entreaties, and on my assuring them that I have no fears, I persuade them to be quiet and to let me go.

“I presented myself before the Nawab, who returned my salute in a kindly manner.  As soon as I was seated, he told me, in a shamefaced way, that I must either accept Mr. Watts’s proposals, or must certainly leave his territories. Your nation is the cause, he said, of all the importunities I now suffer from the English.  I do not wish to put the whole country in trouble for your sake.  You are not strong enough to defend yourselves; you must give way.  You ought to remember that when I had need of your assistance you always refused it.  You ought not to expect assistance from me now.

“It must be confessed that, after all our behaviour to him, I had not much to reply.  I noticed, however, that the Nawab kept his eyes cast down, and that it was, as it were, against his will that he paid me this compliment.  I told him I should be dishonoured if I accepted Mr. Watts’s proposals, but that as he was absolutely determined to expel us from his country, I was ready to withdraw, and that as soon as I had the necessary passports I would go towards Patna.  At this every one in concert, except the Nawab and Coja Wajid, cried out that I could not take that road, that the Nawab would not consent to it.  I asked what road they wished me to take.  They said I must go towards Midnapur or Cuttack.  I answered that the English might at any moment march in that direction and fall upon me.  They replied I must get out of the difficulty as best I could.  The Nawab, meanwhile, kept his face bent down, listening attentively, but saying nothing.  Wishing to force him to speak, I asked if it was his intention to cause me to fall into the hands of my enemies?  ‘No, no,’ replied the Nawab, ‘take what road you please, and may God conduct you.’  I stood up and thanked him, received the betel,[95] and went out.”

Gholam Husain Khan says that the Nawab was much affected at parting with Law, as he now believed in the truth of his warnings against the English and the English party,—­

“but as he did not dare to keep him in his service for fear of offending the English, he told him that at present it was fit that he should depart; but that if anything new should happen he would send for him again. ‘Send for me again?’ answered Law. ’Rest assured, my Lord Nawab, that this is the last time we shall see each other.  Remember my words:  we shall never meet again.  It is nearly impossible.”

Law hurried back to his Factory, and by the evening of the 15th of April he was ready to depart.  The same day the Nawab wrote to Clive:—­