Sharpes Havoc   ::   Корнуэлл Бернард

„He is a prisoner of war,” Christophercontradicted him, „and you will give him over to my custody.”

Vicente still tried to resist. Christopher, after all, was in civilian clothes. „He is a prisoner of my army,” Vicente said stubbornly.

„And I,” Christopher said disdainfully, „am a lieutenant colonel in His Britannic Majesty’s army, and that, I think, means that I outrank you, Lieutenant, and you will obey my orders or else you will face the military consequences.”

Vicente, outranked and overwhelmed, stepped back and Christopher, with a small bow, presented Olivier with his sword. „Perhaps you will do me the honor of waiting inside?” he suggested to the Frenchman and, when a much relieved Olivier had gone into the Quinta, Christopher strode to the edge of the front steps and stared over Sharpe’s head to where a white cloud of dust was being generated on a track coming from the distant main road. A large body of horsemen was approaching the village and Christopher reckoned it had to be Captain Argenton and his escort. A look of alarm crossed his face and his gaze flickered to Sharpe, then back to the approaching cavalry. He dared not let the two meet. „Sharpe,” he said, „you are under orders again.”

„If you say so, sir.” Sharpe sounded reluctant.

„Then you will stay here and guard my wife,” Christopher said. „Are those your horses?” He pointed to the dozen cavalry horses captured at Barca d’Avintas, most of which were still saddled. „I’ll take two of them.” He ran into the entrance hall and beckoned to Olivier. „Monsieur! You will accompany me and we go at once. Dearest one?” He took Kate’s hand. „You will stay here till I return. I shall not be long. An hour at the most.” He bent to give her knuckles a kiss, then hurried outside and hauled himself into the nearest saddle, watched Olivier mount, then both men spurred down the track. „You will stay here, Sharpe!” Christopher shouted as he left. „Right here! That is an order!”

Vicente watched Christopher and the dragoon lieutenant ride away. „Why has he taken the Frenchman?”

„God knows,” Sharpe said, and while Dodd and three other riflemen took Hagman to the stable block he climbed to the top step and took out his superb telescope which he rested on a finely carved stone urn that decorated the small terrace. He trained the glass on the approaching horsemen and saw they were French dragoons. A hundred of them? Maybe more.