performing for a crowd of infantrymen and the animal reminded Sharpe of
Major Stokes’s words about America. Simone! It was his own damn
fault. He should never have trusted the woman. The thought of his own
foolishness plunged Sharpe into a black mood that was not helped by the
sight of two redcoat privates lounging on a bench outside Torrance’s
quarters. Neither man moved as Sharpe slid from the horse.
He gave the reins to Ahmed and mimed that the boy should rub the grey
mare down with straw and then water her.
The two redcoats shifted slightly as if acknowledging Sharpe’s
presence, but neither man stood. He knew both of them; indeed, not so
very long ago he had marched in the same ranks as these two men whose
coats had the red facings of the 33rd. Kendrick and Lowry, they were
called, and two worse characters it would have been hard to find in any
light company. Both were cronies of Hakeswill’s, and both had been
among the small party Hakeswill had brought north in his failed attempt
to arrest Sharpe.
“On your feet,” Sharpe said.
Kendrick glanced at Lowry, who looked back at Kendrick, and the two
made faces at each other as though they were surprised by Sharpe’s
demands. They hesitated just long enough to make their insolence
plain, but not quite long enough to make it punishable, then stood to
attention.
“Is that your ‘orse, Mister Sharpe?” Kendrick asked, stressing the
‘mister’.
Sharpe ignored the question and pushed into the house to find a new
clerk sitting behind the table. He was a young, good-looking Indian
with oiled hair and a very white robe. He wore an apron to protect the
robe from ink spots.
“You have business, sahib?” he asked brusquely.
“With Captain Torrance.”
“The Captain is ill.” The Indian, whose English was very good,
smiled.
“He’s always bloody ill,” Sharpe said and walked past the protesting
clerk to push open the inner door.
Torrance was in his hammock, smoking his hookah, and dressed in an
Indian gown embroidered with dragons while Sergeant Hakeswill was
sitting at a small table counting a pile of coins.
“Sharpe!” Torrance sounded surprised. Hakeswill, looking equally
surprised, sullenly stood to attention.
“Wasn’t expecting you till this evening,” Torrance said.
“I’m here,” Sharpe said unnecessarily.
“So it is apparent. Unless you’re a spectre?”
Sharpe had no time for small talk.
“You’ve got a problem with chitties he asked abruptly.
“Tiresome, isn’t it?” Torrance seemed uncomfortable.
“Very tiresome. Sergeant, you have business elsewhere?”
“I’ve got duties, sir!” Hakeswill snapped.
“Attend to them, dear fellow.”
“Sir!” Hakeswill stiffened, turned to the right, then marched from the
room.
“So how are you, Sharpe? Keeping busy?” Torrance had swung himself
off the hammock and now scooped the coins into a leather bag.
“I hear poor Elliott died?”
“Shot, sir.”
Torrance shuddered as if the news was personal.
“So very sad,” he sighed, then retied the belt of his elaborate gown.
“I never did thank you, Sharpe, for being so supportive with Sir
Arthur.”
Sharpe had not thought he had been supportive at all.
“I just told the truth, sir.”
“My father would be proud of you, and I’m deeply grateful to you. It
seems Dilip was in league with Naig.”
“He was?”
Torrance heard the disbelief in Sharpe’s voice.
“No other explanation, is there?” he said curtly.
“Someone must have been telling Naig which convoys carried the vital
supplies, and it had to be Dilip. I must say I thought Wellesley was
damned obtuse! There really is no point in having scruples about
hanging natives. There isn’t exactly a shortage of them, is there?” He
smiled.
“There’s something wrong with the chitties Sharpe demanded rudely.
“So there is, Sharpe, so there is. Our new clerk discovered the
discrepancies. He’s a smart young fellow. Sajit!”
The young clerk came into the room, clasped his hands and offered
Torrance a slight bow.
“Sahib?”
“This is Ensign Sharpe, Sajit. He’s by way of being my deputy and thus
as much your sahib as I am.”
Sajit offered Sharpe a bow.
“I am honoured, sahib.”
“Perhaps you could show Mister Sharpe the problematical chitties
Sajit?” Torrance suggested.
Sajit went back to the outer room and returned a moment later with a