Desmond sat for some time with his chin in his hands, thinking.  Then he asked: 

“Do you know where the British fleet is at present?”

“Yes, sahib.  I was in the bazaar today; it was said that this morning the ships were still at Fulta.  The sepoys are recovering from the privations of the voyage.”

“We shall drop down the river tomorrow as soon as we have unloaded our cargo.  You may expect us back ahead of the fleet, so keep a good lookout for us.  I shall take care that Mr. Drake is informed of your fidelity, and you will certainly be well rewarded.”

Early in the morning the cargo was unloaded; then, under pretense of taking in goods at Mayapur, the petala dropped down the river and gained Fulta under cover of night.

Next morning Desmond, having resumed his ordinary attire, sought an interview with Clive.

“The very man I wished to see,” said Clive, shaking hands.  “Your scouting is the one ray of light in the darkness that covers the enemy’s arrangements.  You have done remarkably well, and I take it you would not be here unless you had something to tell me.”

Desmond gave briefly the information he had learned from Hubbo.

“That’s the game, is it?” said Clive.  “A pretty scheme, egad!  ’Twill be fatal to us if carried out.  ’Twould put a spoke in the admiral’s wheel and throw all the work on the land force.  That’s weak enough, what with Mr. Killpatrick’s men dying off every day—­he has only thirty left—­and my own Sepoys mostly skeletons.  And we haven’t proved ourselves against the Nawab’s troops; I suppose they outnumber us thirty to one, and after their success at Calcutta they’ll be very cock-a-hoop.  Yet ’tis so easy to sink a few ships, especially if preparations have been made long in advance, as appears to be the case.”

“I think, sir, it might be prevented.”

Clive, who had been pacing up and down in some perturbation of mind, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him, halted, looked up sharply, and said: 

“Indeed!  How?”

“If we could get hold of the subahdar.”

“By bribing him?  He might not be open to bribery.  Most of these native officials are, but there are some honest men among them, and he may be one.  He wouldn’t have been selected for his job unless Manik Chand thought him trustworthy.  Besides, how are we going to get into communication with him?  And even if we did, and filled him to the brim with rupees, how are we to know he wouldn’t sell us in turn to the enemy?”

“But there are other ways, sir.  We can depend on Hubbo, and if I might suggest, it would pay to promise him a rich reward if he managed to keep the passage clear.”

“Yes, I agree.  What reward would be most effective?”

“A few hundred rupees and the post of syr serang in the Company’s service when Calcutta is retaken.”

“Not too extravagant!  Well, I shall see Mr. Drake; the offer had better come from him and reach Hubbo through his brother.”