Page:Dupleix and the Struggle for India by the European Nations.djvu/96

Rh months earlier. Dupleix, regarding only the direct aim of all his negotiations—the establishment of French predominance in Southern India—and not very confident of the chances of war, wrote at once to D'Auteuil to suspend military operations pending the receipt of further instructions. But, meanwhile, a change had taken place in the command of the French auxiliaries. A severe attack of gout had compelled D'Auteuil to quit the army, and his place had been taken by the young and brilliant De la Touche. That officer had been careful to maintain the secret correspondence with the disaffected nobles of the Subáhdár's army which Dupleix had initiated. From these he learned the nature of the terms sent by Nádir Jang to Pondichery, and the assurance that they were not intended to be adhered to, and that it was advisable to act at once. Under the circumstances, De la Touche considered himself justified in acting upon his earlier instructions. Transmitting then a reply to Dupleix that his orders had arrived too late, for that he had arranged with his friends in the Subáhdár's camp to act that night (December 15), he set out at the head of 800 Frenchmen, 3000 sipáhis, and ten guns, for that camp. At four o'clock in the morning he sighted it, and attacked. At first, he carried all before him. But, in the very crisis of the action, he noticed advancing towards his left flank a body of some 20,000 men. Were these enemies, he would be ruined, for retreat was impossible. Very soon, however, he recognised the signal pre-arranged by