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 controlling the entire administration, he avoided that outward show of power which excites popular alarm. When Raja Man Singh came as Governor of Bengal and visited Birnagar, he found reasons to be satisfied with the arrangement which had been made by Raja Todar Mull. More than this, he bestowed honours on Nobo Kumar for his faithful service, and he confirmed the royal promise to restore Debipur to him when the heir of Birnagar came of age.

A few, very few of the old servants of Noren's grandfather, who were now hoary-headed, saw farther. They saw—or thought they saw—that under a smiling face and a kindly behaviour the manager harboured a deep design and a settled purpose. They noticed that Nobo Kumar had quietly and secretly won over every agent in the two estates to his cause. They observed that emissaries from Birnagar were busy in every village and every market-place. And they also perceived that the outworks of Debipur were strengthened, the armed retainers of Debipur were increased. What all this meant they only guessed, but dared not speak. Only when they met their old master's grandson—now a handsome and high-spirited young man—they would take him apart and whisper suspicions into his ears.

"Raja Todar Mull," they said, "is a brave General, and Raja Man Singh is an able Ruler, but they see not into Nobo Kumar's dark soul. Your grandfather's estate is in his iron grip, and Nobo Kumar is not the man to relinquish his hold. Young man, beware!"

Right in the midst of the bazaar, in the most