Page:History of the French in India.djvu/449

 BASENESS OF GODEHEU. 423 whom he had treated as a friend and as a confidant, chap. IX conld nse that friendship and that confidence to betray , But Dupleix was not suffered to remain long in his self-deception. On August 1, the ship, " Due de Bour- gogne," having Godeheu on board, arrived in the road- stead of Pondichery. A letter was at once sent off to Dupleix announcing his arrival, and intimating that one other ship was accomanying him, and that three more with 2,000 troops on board would follow in a few days. Dupleix at once went to meet his ancient com- rade. His reception, however, was most frigid. Gode- heu declined to become his guest, or even to land until a house should have been fitted up for him. He made over to Dupleix, however, three documents : — the first a letter from himself containing profuse professions of anxiety to make his situation as little painful as pos- sible ; the second a demand for a full report on the state of affairs in French India ; the third an order from the King containing his recall. The first letter was probably written with the intention of diverting Dupleix from offering, as he feared he might, armed resistance to his authority, for on landing the next day in great pomp and splendour, received with all defer- ence by Dupleix on the quay, he curtly informed him that he expected him to sail at once with his family for Europe. He then proceeded to the Council Chamber, and had his commission read out. The silence which followed this reading was interrupted by Dupleix him- self, not indeed by querulous complaints or undignified protests, but by the loyal cry of Vive le Roi ! On August 2, 1754, Dupleix made over to Godeheu the command of that vast extent of territory on Indian soil, which partly in actual tenure, partly by means of the influence he exercised, he had gained for his coun- try. Ten weeks later, October 14, Dupleix and his family bade a last adieu to the land to which he had him. 1754.