Putting up the horses, he proceeded to the house occupied by Colonel Ochterlony, the Resident.
"Will you tell the colonel," he said, "that I am an officer with despatches from General Lake ?" He was at once shown in.

Colonel Burns, the commander of the garrison, was with the Resident.

Neither was surprised that the messenger should be a native, for they knew the difficulties a British officer would encounter in travelling from Agra.
"I have ridden with a despatch for you, Colonel, from General Lake.
I am Captain Lindsay, and have the honour of serving on the general's staff." "I am glad to see you, sir," Ochterlony said, kindly.

"Your name is pretty well known, to all of us, as that of an officer who has successfully carried out several dangerous enterprises; and this cannot have been one of the most dangerous of them, for indeed, in that disguise I do not think that anyone would entertain the slightest suspicion that you are not what you appear to be.
"I am told you speak Mahratta perfectly." "I was brought up among the Mahrattas, sir.

I have got through easily, and only once came upon a body of Holkar's cavalry." "You have just arrived, Captain Lindsay ?" "Yes, not ten minutes ago." The colonel rang the bell, and directed a servant who came in to bring in wine and refreshments.