Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/164

158 the principal agent of the English in their affairs with the future government after the revolution; and that the emoluments of this office would amply compensate, whatsoever he might relinquish or lose by his immediate departure. At length he consented to go, but it was necessary, and seemed difficult to obtain the Nabob's consent, as he relied principally upon Omichund for intelligence concerning the proceedings and views of the English. But Omichund himself solved the difficulty, by advising Mr. Scrafton to demand of the Nabob the present which he had intended to give to the English commanders at the conclusion of the peace in February; in consequence of which, the Nabob suspecting the secret had been disclosed by Omichund, would immediately hold him in as much detestation, as he had hitherto regarded him with favour. Accordingly this scene was acted. The Nabob denied the promise. Omichund pretended to be terrified; and the Nabob being really irritated, told Mr. Scrafton that he might carry him wheresoever he pleased.

Mr. Scrafton remained three days longer in the city in. expectation of the return of Meer Jaffier from Plassy. Meer Jaffier arrived on the 30th, and visited the Nabob, who, having no further need of his immediate service, treated him with insolence. The frown of despotism is always dreadful; and Meer Jaffier returned to his palace, convinced of impending danger, insomuch that he was afraid of conferring in private with Mr. Scrafton, who visited him in the afternoon, but received him in the hall of public audience; on which Scrafton left the city that evening.

He was accompanied by Omichund. They proceeded in palanquins; but when Scrafton arrived at Cossimbuzar, he missed his companion; on which he stopped and dispatched messengers to the city, who found the old man sitting at midnight in the Nabob's treasury, soliciting Moonloll for some more of the money which the Nabob had ordered to be restored to him in reward for his story concerning Bussy; but finding that Moonloll would give him nothing but promises, and pressed by the messengers, he returned with them and rejoined Mr. Scrafton at two in the morning. Continuing their journey, Mr. Scrafton fell asleep, and waking at day-break, missed his