Steam, however, wasn’t the governor’s preoccupation this morning. All had changed with the arrival the evening before of a Company messenger from Fort William.

He welcomed them to the workaday rooms whence the presidency was governed, introduced his secretary to Fairbrother (a handsome way round, thought Hervey), poured them marsala and then sat down in the emphatic way he had when pleased with what he was about to impart.

‘Well then, gentlemen: what do you know of thuggee?’

Hervey was well used to Somervile’s interrogatory way of proceeding, though it was not his own. Nevertheless, he was in spirits enough to humour him. ‘Do we speak of a proper or an abstract noun?’

‘Abstract.’

‘Frankly, I know neither proper nor abstract.’

‘Captain Fairbrother, you look knowing, sir.’

‘I met a Bengal collector on the packet out returning from home leave. He said his district was plagued by dacoits, of whom the worst belonged to a secret society which murdered any and all, whether necessary or not, and that these were known as phansigars, or sometimes thugs.’

Somervile beamed. ‘Then my purpose is made so much easier. That, indeed, appears to be the essence of thuggee. And your collector will, by all accounts, find the situation in his district not in the least improved on his return.’

‘He said he believed it would soon disturb Madras – the Northern Circars,’ added Fairbrother.

‘His reason?’

‘That the authorities were quite unable to bring any of the thugs to justice for want of intelligence, so there was no impediment to their increase. Also that some of the nabobs must be party to it.’

‘Hah! That is the material point,’ said Somervile, turning to Hervey. ‘The service believes this to be so.’

Hervey inclined his head, as if to say he was not surprised.

Somervile turned back to Fairbrother. ‘I should explain, sir, by “service” I mean the Political Service. You are acquainted with its purpose?’

‘I am not, Sir Eyre, but shall be happy to be so.’

‘Most of the princely states – the greater ones at least – have a Resident, an ambassador of the Company, though his functions are considerably greater than merely embassy. It is a form of indirect rule, the object being the maintenance of peace, which was desirable in itself when the Company was principally engaged in trade but which now, since the new Act, is essential to the exercise of government. The service consists of officers drawn largely from the military, but also from the best of the Company’s writers.’

‘Admirable.’

‘I confess a high regard for them … Well now, there’s a political making his way here presently on instructions from Fort William. I should be much obliged, Captain Fairbrother, if you would lend an ear to our discussions.’

Fairbrother, having supposed their mutual interest lay in pistons and cylinders, was quite taken aback. ‘I … should be delighted, Sir Eyre, though to what end my ear may be of use is quite beyond me.’

Hervey already had his suspicions.