Purseram Bhow was again summoned to Poona and, with his usual energy, made a march of one hundred and twenty miles in forty-eight hours.
The position was a difficult one, indeed.

At one blow, the plans that had been so carefully laid by Nana were shattered.

Scindia, who had but a month or two before formed one of the confederacy, had now gone round to the side of Bajee Rao, who regarded the minister as his greatest enemy.

Holkar was not to be depended upon and, in Poona, there were many adherents of the son of Rugoba.

The council held by Nana, Purseram, and two or three other great officers was long and, at times, stormy; but it was finally agreed that the sole way out of the perilous position, caused by Scindia's desertion, was to anticipate him and to release Bajee Rao, and declare him Peishwa.
Purseram started, at once, to the fort where the brothers were confined.