It did not seem to him desperate, if only Holkar failed to capture Delhi; and even if he did so, there was still some hope.

He had no doubt that the rajah was waiting to see how matters went.

If Holkar captured the city, he would probably send him in to him as a pledge of his goodwill; but he might still hesitate, until he saw the issue of the battle that was likely to be fought outside the walls, when the English army arrived there.

He had hitherto affected friendship with the English; and had offered no objection, whatever, to the small force being stationed near his town.

But, doubtless, the news of the disaster to Colonel Monson's force had shaken him; and convinced him that the English were not invincible, and that Holkar's immense army would inflict a decisive defeat upon them, in which case those who had shown any friendly feeling towards the English would be made to suffer for it--by devastation of their lands, and the loss of their jagheer, if not of their lives.