“I expected Captain Joubert to be late,” Pohlmann said, ‘for a man newly reunited with his wife has better things to do than hurry to his supper, if indeed he takes his supper at all. Were you also welcoming Simone, Major?”
“I was not, sir. I was attending to the picquets.”
“Major Dodd’s attention to his duty puts us all to shame,” Pohlmann said.
“Do you have the pleasure of knowing Major Dodd, Colonel?” he asked McCandless.
“I know the Company will pay five hundred guineas for Lieutenant Dodd’s capture,” McCandless growled, ‘and more now, I dare say, after his bestiality at Chasalgaon.”
Dodd showed no reaction to the Colonel’s hostility, but Pohlmann smiled.
“You’ve come for the reward money, Colonel, is that it?”
“I wouldn’t touch the money,” McCandless said, ‘for it’s tainted by association. Tainted by murder, Colonel, and by disloyalty and dishonour.”
The words were spoken to Pohlmann, but addressed to Dodd whose face seemed to tighten as he listened. He had taken a place at the end of the table and was helping himself to the food. The other guests were silent, intrigued by the tension between McCandless and Dodd.
Pohlmann was enjoying the confrontation.
“You say Major Dodd is a murderer, Colonel?”
“A murderer and a traitor.”
Pohlmann looked down the table.
“Major Dodd? You have nothing to say?”
Dodd reached for a loaf of flat bread that he tore in half.
“When I had the misfortune to serve in the Company, Colonel,” he said to Pohlmann, “Colonel McCandless was well known as the head of intelligence. He did the dishonourable job of spying on the Company’s enemies, and I’ve no doubt that is his purpose here. He can spit all he likes, but he’s here to spy, Colonel.”
Pohlmann smiled.
“Is that true, McCandless?”
“I returned Madame Joubert to her husband, Pohlmann, nothing more,” McCandless insisted.
“Of course it’s more,” Pohlmann said.
“Major Dodd is right! You’re head of the Company’s intelligence service, are you not? Which means that you saw in dear Simone’s predicament a chance to ‘nspect our army.”
“You infer too much,” McCandless said.
“Nonsense, Colonel. Do try the lamb. It’s seethed in milk curds. So what do you wish to see?”
“My bed,” McCandless said curtly, waving away the lamb dish. He never touched meat.
“Just my bed,” he added.
“And see it you shall,” Pohlmann said genially. The Hanoverian paused, wondering whether to re-ignite the hostility between McCandless and Dodd, but he must have decided that each had insulted the other sufficiently.
“But tomorrow, Colonel, I will provide a tour of inspection for you. You may see whatever you like, McCandless. You can watch our gunners at work, you may inspect our infantry, you may go wherever you wish and talk to whoever you desire. We have nothing to hide.” He smiled at the astonished McCandless.
“You are my guest, Colonel, so I must show you a proper hospitality.”
He was as good as his word, and next morning McCandless was invited to inspect all of Pohlmann’s compoo.
“I wish there were more troops here,” Pohlmann said, ‘but Scindia is a few miles northwards with Saleur’s and Dupont’s compoos. I like to think they’re not as able as mine, but in truth they’re both very good units. Both have European officers, of course, and both are properly trained. I can’t say as much for the Rajah of Berar’s infantry, but his gunners are the equal of ours.”
McCandless said very little all morning, and Sharpe, who had learned to read the Scotsman’s moods, saw that he was severely discomfited. And no wonder, for Pohlmann’s troops looked as fine as any in the Company’s service. The Hanoverian commanded six and half thousand infantry, five hundred cavalry and as many pioneers who served as engineers, and possessed thirty-eight guns. This compoo alone outnumbered the infantry of Wellesley’s army, and was much stronger in guns, and there were two similar compoos in Scindia’s service let alone his horde of cavalry. It was no surprise, Sharpe thought, that McCandless’s spirits were falling, and they fell even further when Pohlmann arranged for a demonstration of his artillery and the Scotsman, feigning gratitude to his host, was forced to watch as teams of gunners served a battery of big eighteen-pounder guns with all the alacrity and efficiency of the British army.