JК
Sharpes Devil :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 27 из 209'They say Don Bias's disappearance is a military matter of concern only to the Spanish authorities!" So, in desperation, and while returning overland to Spain, Louisa had called on Sharpe. Her husband had once done Sharpe a great service, she tellingly reminded Sharpe, and now she wanted that favor returned.
Lucille spoke excellent English, but not quite well enough to have kept up with Louisa's indignant loquacity. Sharpe translated, and added a few facts of his own; how he did indeed owe Bias Vivar a great debt. "He helped me once, years ago," Sharpe said, deliberately vague, for Lucille never much liked to hear of Sharpe's exploits in fighting against her own people. "And he is a good man," Sharpe added, and knew the compliment was inadequate, for Don Bias was more than just a good man. He was, or had been, a generous man of rigorous honesty; a man of religion, of charity, and of ability.
"I do not like asking this of you," Louisa said in an unnaturally timid voice, "but I know that whoever seeks Don Bias must treat with soldiers, and your name is respected everywhere among soldiers."
"Not here, it isn't," Lucille said robustly, though not without an affectionate smile at Sharpe, for she knew how proud he would be of the compliment just paid him.
"And, of course, I shall pay you for your trouble in going to Chile," Louisa added.
"Of course Richard will go," Lucille, understanding that promise, said quickly.
"Though I don't need any money," Sharpe said gallantly.
"Yes, you do," Lucille intervened calmly and, more pointedly, in English so that Louisa would understand. Lucille had already estimated the worth of Dona Louisa's black dress, and of her carriage, and of her postilions and outriders and horses and luggage, and Lucille knew only too well how desperately her chateau needed repairs and how badly her estate needed the investment of money. Lucille paused to bite through a thread, "But I don't want you to go alone. You need company. You've been wanting to see Patrick, so you should write to Dublin tonight, Richard."
"Patrick won't want to come," Sharpe said, not because he thought his friend would truly refuse such an invitation, but rather because he did not want to raise his own hopes that his oldest friend, Patrick Harper, would give up his comfortable existence as landlord of a Dublin tavern and instead travel to one of the remotest and evidently most troubled countries on earth.
"It would be better if you did take a companion," Louisa said firmly. "Chile is horribly corrupt.
Lucille spoke excellent English, but not quite well enough to have kept up with Louisa's indignant loquacity. Sharpe translated, and added a few facts of his own; how he did indeed owe Bias Vivar a great debt. "He helped me once, years ago," Sharpe said, deliberately vague, for Lucille never much liked to hear of Sharpe's exploits in fighting against her own people. "And he is a good man," Sharpe added, and knew the compliment was inadequate, for Don Bias was more than just a good man. He was, or had been, a generous man of rigorous honesty; a man of religion, of charity, and of ability.
"I do not like asking this of you," Louisa said in an unnaturally timid voice, "but I know that whoever seeks Don Bias must treat with soldiers, and your name is respected everywhere among soldiers."
"Not here, it isn't," Lucille said robustly, though not without an affectionate smile at Sharpe, for she knew how proud he would be of the compliment just paid him.
"And, of course, I shall pay you for your trouble in going to Chile," Louisa added.
"Of course Richard will go," Lucille, understanding that promise, said quickly.
"Though I don't need any money," Sharpe said gallantly.
"Yes, you do," Lucille intervened calmly and, more pointedly, in English so that Louisa would understand. Lucille had already estimated the worth of Dona Louisa's black dress, and of her carriage, and of her postilions and outriders and horses and luggage, and Lucille knew only too well how desperately her chateau needed repairs and how badly her estate needed the investment of money. Lucille paused to bite through a thread, "But I don't want you to go alone. You need company. You've been wanting to see Patrick, so you should write to Dublin tonight, Richard."
"Patrick won't want to come," Sharpe said, not because he thought his friend would truly refuse such an invitation, but rather because he did not want to raise his own hopes that his oldest friend, Patrick Harper, would give up his comfortable existence as landlord of a Dublin tavern and instead travel to one of the remotest and evidently most troubled countries on earth.
"It would be better if you did take a companion," Louisa said firmly. "Chile is horribly corrupt.