JК
Sharpes Havoc :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 142 из 242I suppose that damned servantof mine found his way to you? He did? Thought as much. Luis has an unrivaled talent for misunderstanding circumstances.” He drew on his cigar, then blew a plume of smoke that was whirled away on the wind. „I was sent here, Sharpe, by His Majesty’s government with instructions to discover whether Portugal was worth fighting for, whether it was worth an effusion of British blood and I concluded, and I’ve no doubt you will disagree with me, that it was not. So I obeyed the second part of my remit, which was to secure terms from the French. Not terms of surrender, Sharpe, but of settlement. We shall withdraw our forces and they will withdraw theirs, though for form’s sake they will be allowed to march a token division through the streets of Lisbon. Then they’re going: bonsoir, adieu and au revoir. By the end of July there will not be one foreign soldier remaining on Portugal’s soil. That is my achievement, Sharpe, and it was necessary to dine with French generals, French marshals and French officials to secure it.” He paused, as if expecting some reaction, but Sharpe just looked skeptical and Christopher sighed. „That is the truth, Sharpe, however hard you may find it to believe, but remember ‘there are more things in… ‘ „
„I know,” Sharpe interrupted. „More things in heaven and earth than I bloody know about, but what the hell were you doing here?” His voice was angry now. „And you’ve been wearing a French uniform. Luis told me.”
„Can’t usually wear this red coat behind French lines, Sharpe,” Christopher said, „and civilian clothes don’t exactly command respect these days, so yes, I do sometimes wear a French uniform. It’s a ruse de guerre, Sharpe, a ruse de guerre.”
„ A ruse of bloody nothing,” Sharpe snarled. „Those bastards have been trying to kill my men, and you brought them here!”
„Oh, Sharpe,” Christopher said sadly. „We needed somewhere quiet to sign the memorandum of agreement, some place where the mob could not express its crude opinions and so I offered the Quinta. I confess I did not consider your predicament as thoroughly as I should and that is my fault. I am sorry.” He even offered Sharpe the hint of a bow. „The French came here, they deemed your presence a trap and, against my advice, attempted to attack you. I apologize again, Sharpe, most profusely, but it’s over now.
„I know,” Sharpe interrupted. „More things in heaven and earth than I bloody know about, but what the hell were you doing here?” His voice was angry now. „And you’ve been wearing a French uniform. Luis told me.”
„Can’t usually wear this red coat behind French lines, Sharpe,” Christopher said, „and civilian clothes don’t exactly command respect these days, so yes, I do sometimes wear a French uniform. It’s a ruse de guerre, Sharpe, a ruse de guerre.”
„ A ruse of bloody nothing,” Sharpe snarled. „Those bastards have been trying to kill my men, and you brought them here!”
„Oh, Sharpe,” Christopher said sadly. „We needed somewhere quiet to sign the memorandum of agreement, some place where the mob could not express its crude opinions and so I offered the Quinta. I confess I did not consider your predicament as thoroughly as I should and that is my fault. I am sorry.” He even offered Sharpe the hint of a bow. „The French came here, they deemed your presence a trap and, against my advice, attempted to attack you. I apologize again, Sharpe, most profusely, but it’s over now.