I was on the point of leaving India and returning to England when he sent for me.

At least, to be accurate--and I am always accurate--I was not quite on the point, but nearly, for I was going to start by the mail on the following day.

I had been up to Government House to take my leave a few days before, but Sir John had been too ill to see me, or at least he had said he was.

And now he was much worse--dying, it seemed, from all accounts; and he had sent down a native servant in the noon-day heat with a note, written in his shaking old hand, begging me to come up as soon as it became cooler.

He said he had a commission which he was anxious I should do for him in England.
Of course I went.