JК
Sharpes Havoc :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 199 из 242”
„And we can forget the scheme now,” Hogan observed.
„Indeed we can,” Pumphrey replied tartly. „Christopher brought a Captain Argenton to talk with General Cradock,” he explained to Sharpe, „and when Cradock was replaced, Argenton made his own way across the lines to confer with Sir Arthur. He wanted promises that our forces wouldn’t intervene in the event of a French mutiny, but Sir Arthur wouldn’t hear of his plots and told him to tuck his tail between his legs and go back into the outer darkness whence he came. So, no plots, no mysterious messengers with cloaks and daggers, just plain old-fashioned soldiering. It seems, alas, that I am surplus to requirements and Mister Christopher, if your lady friend’s note is to be believed, has gone with the French, which must mean, I think, that he believes they will still win this war.”
Hogan had opened the window to smell the rain, but now turned to Sharpe. „We must go, Richard. We have things to plan.”
„Yes, sir.” Sharpe picked up his battered shako and tried to bend the visor back into shape, then thought of another question. „My lord?”
„Richard?” Lord Pumphrey responded gravely.
„You remember Astrid?” Sharpe asked awkwardly.
„Of course I remember the fair Astrid,” Pumphrey answered smoothly, „Ole Skovgaard’s comely daughter.”
„I was wondering if you had news of her, my lord,” Sharpe said. He was blushing.
Lord Pumphrey did have news of her, but none he cared to tell Sharpe, for the truth was that both Astrid and her father were in their graves, their throats cut on Pumphrey’s orders. „I did hear,” his lordship said gently, „that there was a contagion in Copenhagen. Malaria, perhaps? Or was it cholera? Alas, Richard.” He spread his hands.
„She’s dead?”
„I do fear so.”
„Oh,” Sharpe said inadequately. He stood stricken, blinking. He had thought once that he could leave the army and live with Astrid and so make a new life in the clean decencies of Denmark. „I’m sorry,” he said.
„As am I,” Lord Pumphrey said easily, „so very sorry. But tell me, Richard, about Miss Savage. Might one assume she is beautiful?”
„Yes,” Sharpe said, „she is.”
„I thought so,” Lord Pumphrey said resignedly.
„And she’ll be dead,” Hogan snarled at Sharpe, „if you and me don’t hurry.”
„Yes, sir,” Sharpe said, and hurried.
Hogan and Sharpe walked through the night rain, going uphill to a schoolhouse that Sharpe had commandeered as quarters for his men.
„And we can forget the scheme now,” Hogan observed.
„Indeed we can,” Pumphrey replied tartly. „Christopher brought a Captain Argenton to talk with General Cradock,” he explained to Sharpe, „and when Cradock was replaced, Argenton made his own way across the lines to confer with Sir Arthur. He wanted promises that our forces wouldn’t intervene in the event of a French mutiny, but Sir Arthur wouldn’t hear of his plots and told him to tuck his tail between his legs and go back into the outer darkness whence he came. So, no plots, no mysterious messengers with cloaks and daggers, just plain old-fashioned soldiering. It seems, alas, that I am surplus to requirements and Mister Christopher, if your lady friend’s note is to be believed, has gone with the French, which must mean, I think, that he believes they will still win this war.”
Hogan had opened the window to smell the rain, but now turned to Sharpe. „We must go, Richard. We have things to plan.”
„Yes, sir.” Sharpe picked up his battered shako and tried to bend the visor back into shape, then thought of another question. „My lord?”
„Richard?” Lord Pumphrey responded gravely.
„You remember Astrid?” Sharpe asked awkwardly.
„Of course I remember the fair Astrid,” Pumphrey answered smoothly, „Ole Skovgaard’s comely daughter.”
„I was wondering if you had news of her, my lord,” Sharpe said. He was blushing.
Lord Pumphrey did have news of her, but none he cared to tell Sharpe, for the truth was that both Astrid and her father were in their graves, their throats cut on Pumphrey’s orders. „I did hear,” his lordship said gently, „that there was a contagion in Copenhagen. Malaria, perhaps? Or was it cholera? Alas, Richard.” He spread his hands.
„She’s dead?”
„I do fear so.”
„Oh,” Sharpe said inadequately. He stood stricken, blinking. He had thought once that he could leave the army and live with Astrid and so make a new life in the clean decencies of Denmark. „I’m sorry,” he said.
„As am I,” Lord Pumphrey said easily, „so very sorry. But tell me, Richard, about Miss Savage. Might one assume she is beautiful?”
„Yes,” Sharpe said, „she is.”
„I thought so,” Lord Pumphrey said resignedly.
„And she’ll be dead,” Hogan snarled at Sharpe, „if you and me don’t hurry.”
„Yes, sir,” Sharpe said, and hurried.
Hogan and Sharpe walked through the night rain, going uphill to a schoolhouse that Sharpe had commandeered as quarters for his men.