JК
Sharpes Havoc :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 90 из 242More thandrinkable! I always thought the stuff was execrable, a woman’s tipple at best, but Savages’ white is really very good. We must make more of it in the piping days of peace, don’t you think, dearest?”
„If you say so,” Kate said, smiling at her husband.
„That was rather good, Sharpe, don’t you think? Pipes of port? Piping days of peace? A piping pun, I’d say.” Christopher waited for Sharpe’s comment and, when none came, he scowled. „You’ll stay here, Lieutenant.”
„Why’s that, sir?” Sharpe asked.
The question surprised Christopher. He had been expecting a more surly response and was not ready for a mildly voiced query. He frowned, thinking how to phrase his answer. „I am expecting developments, Sharpe,” he said after a few heartbeats.
„Developments, sir?”
„It is by no means certain,” Christopher went on, „that the war will be prolonged. We could, indeed, be on the very cusp of peace.”
„That’s good, sir,” Sharpe said in an even voice, „and that’s why we’re to stay here?”
„You’re to stay here, Sharpe.” There was asperity in Christopher’s voice now as he realized Sharpe’s neutral tone had been impudence. „And that applies to you too, Lieutenant.” He spoke to Vicente who had come into the room with a small bow to Kate. „Things are poised,” the Colonel went on, „precariously. If the French find British troops wandering around north of the Douro they’ll think we are breaking our word.”
„My troops are not British,” Vicente observed quietly.
„The principle is the same!” Christopher snapped. „We do not rock the boat. We do not jeopardize weeks of negotiation. If the thing can be resolved without more bloodshed then we must do all that we can to ensure that it is so resolved, and your contribution to that process is to stay here. And who the devil are those rogues down in the village?”
„Rogues?” Sharpe asked.
„A score of men, armed to the teeth, staring at me as I rode through. So who the devil are they?”
„Partisans,” Sharpe said, „otherwise known as our allies.”
Christopher did not like that jibe. „Idiots, more like,” he snarled, „ready to upset the apple cart.”
„And they’re led by a man you know,” Sharpe went on, „Manuel Lopes.”
„Lopes? Lopes?” Christopher frowned, trying to remember. „Oh yes! The fellow who ran a flogging school for the few sons of the gentry in Braganga. Blustery sort of fellow, eh? Well, I’ll have a word with him in the morning.
„If you say so,” Kate said, smiling at her husband.
„That was rather good, Sharpe, don’t you think? Pipes of port? Piping days of peace? A piping pun, I’d say.” Christopher waited for Sharpe’s comment and, when none came, he scowled. „You’ll stay here, Lieutenant.”
„Why’s that, sir?” Sharpe asked.
The question surprised Christopher. He had been expecting a more surly response and was not ready for a mildly voiced query. He frowned, thinking how to phrase his answer. „I am expecting developments, Sharpe,” he said after a few heartbeats.
„Developments, sir?”
„It is by no means certain,” Christopher went on, „that the war will be prolonged. We could, indeed, be on the very cusp of peace.”
„That’s good, sir,” Sharpe said in an even voice, „and that’s why we’re to stay here?”
„You’re to stay here, Sharpe.” There was asperity in Christopher’s voice now as he realized Sharpe’s neutral tone had been impudence. „And that applies to you too, Lieutenant.” He spoke to Vicente who had come into the room with a small bow to Kate. „Things are poised,” the Colonel went on, „precariously. If the French find British troops wandering around north of the Douro they’ll think we are breaking our word.”
„My troops are not British,” Vicente observed quietly.
„The principle is the same!” Christopher snapped. „We do not rock the boat. We do not jeopardize weeks of negotiation. If the thing can be resolved without more bloodshed then we must do all that we can to ensure that it is so resolved, and your contribution to that process is to stay here. And who the devil are those rogues down in the village?”
„Rogues?” Sharpe asked.
„A score of men, armed to the teeth, staring at me as I rode through. So who the devil are they?”
„Partisans,” Sharpe said, „otherwise known as our allies.”
Christopher did not like that jibe. „Idiots, more like,” he snarled, „ready to upset the apple cart.”
„And they’re led by a man you know,” Sharpe went on, „Manuel Lopes.”
„Lopes? Lopes?” Christopher frowned, trying to remember. „Oh yes! The fellow who ran a flogging school for the few sons of the gentry in Braganga. Blustery sort of fellow, eh? Well, I’ll have a word with him in the morning.