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 CHAPTER VII

The English are roused to Action

The pretender to the Karnátik, supported by the English, had, we have seen, fled almost unattended to Trichinopoli. Thence, hopeless of success, he had made overtures to Dupleix, agreeing to recognise Chandá Sáhib as Nuwáb, and to surrender to him Trichinopoli and its dependencies, on condition (1) that the treasures left by his father should be restored to him; (2) that he should receive a subordinate province in lieu of the Karnátik. Dupleix had accepted these conditions, and had obtained from Muzaffar Jang a promise to carry them out. When, however, after the departure of Bussy and the Subáhdár from Pondichery, Dupleix pressed Muhammad Alí to perform his part of the agreement, engaging to place him at once in the position in which he had covenanted to place him, Muhammad Alí first hesitated, then asked for fresh guarantees. Meanwhile, he was imploring the English to come to his aid. For four months he implored in vain; but when, at the end of that period, he had wrung from them a promise of substantive assistance in the event of his being attacked, he boldly threw off the mask and informed