Sharpe looked up into the plump, clever face. `La Marquesa is a Frenchwoman, a spy, and.’
`Thank you, Major, I only asked if you recognised the handwriting. Do you?’
He did, but he saw no sense in making things grimmer for himself than they already were. `I can’t tell.’
Vaughn walked back to his table. `Fortunately we have witnesses who can.’
Sharpe raised his voice. `I have another letter from.’
`We are concerned with this letter, Major!’ Vaughn turned sharply, but Pakenham held up a hand. He looked into Sharpe’s eyes for the first time since the Rifleman had entered the room.
`You have another letter from this lady?’ Sharpe nodded. He had not told Trumper-Jones of the letter because Sharpe had no faith in the young man’s ability. `She wrote to me, sir, after the death of my wife. She wanted to offer me her condolences. She regretted she would not convey them to me in person.’ He could not resist a small smile. Such a letter was hardly likely to have come from a yoman he had persecuted. He saw the flicker of hope on Lieutenant Trumper-Jones’ face. `I’d like that letter read into the record too, sir.’
The general officers behind the table smiled, sensing a victory for Sharpe. Pakenham leaned back. `You have the letter, Major Sharpe?’
`It’s in my pack, sir.’
`Major Vaughn?’ Pakenham turned to the Welshman. `You have no objection?’
`No, sir, none. But I must tell the court that we have already impounded the prisoner’s belongings, searched them, and no such letter has been found.’
`It’s in my pack!’ Sharpe said stubbornly. Vaughn sighed. `Major Michael Hogan conducted the search, sir. No letter was discovered.’
The officers behind the table stared again at the green cloth on which their papers lay. Sharpe’s sword, its scabbard and hilt battered by war, was at the table’s front.
The Marques’ chaplain, through an interpreter, testified that he had found the Marques’ servants asleep outside his master’s room. Perhaps, he wondered, they had been given a sleeping potion by the prisoner?
Captain Morillos, a bull of a man, gave his evidence. He had seen, in the light of a torch bracketed at the garden gate of the house, a Rifle Officer leave at three in the morning. No, he had not seen the man’s face, but he had seen the English uniform and the Heavy Cavalry sword.
It was hot in the courtroom. Sharpe could feel himself sweating beneath his shirt. He listened hopelessly as Lieutenant Trumper-Jones failed to budge Captain Morillos one inch. The Captain claimed to have an intimate knowledge of uniforms and swords and was certain of what he had seen.
Sharpe had no defence other than innocence. He had eaten with Harper, Isabella, and d’Alembord, but he had left before midnight. He had slept in his billet, but he could produce no witnesses who could swear that they had watched him all night.
Major Vaughn waved a fly from the air in front of his face. `Major Sharpe. You knew La Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba?’
`Yes.’
`And that acquaintanceship,’ he stressed the word delicately, `gave rise to the challenge you accepted yesterday?’
`No.’
`No?’
`I never threatened her.’
`One is delighted to hear it.’ Vaughn smiled and took two thoughtful paces into the floor’s centre. `But you did know her?’
`Yes.’
`Well? You knew her well?’
`Yes, but.’
`Yes is enough. Major. Ysu were challenged by Major Mendora, aide to the General?’
`Yes.’
`And you accepted the challenge?’
`Yes.’
`Even though you knew that such an acceptance was counter to the General Orders of this army?’
Sharpe looked at the smug face. `I went into the breach at Badajoz without orders, too.’
Two of the officers behind the table smiled. Vaughn just raised an eyebrow. `Another impetuous act, Major?’
Sharpe said nothing. Vaughn sighed and walked back to his table. He straightened his papers as though he would not be needing them much longer. `You were prevented from finishing this duel?’
`I was.’
`We should be grateful that someone was doing his duty yesterday. Presumably, Major, you felt cheated of a death?’
Sharpe frowned. `No.’
`Ah! You were fighting a duel for exercise, perhaps?’