JК
Sharpes Havoc :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 98 из 242” He handed Vuillard an envelope.
„What is it?” It was too dark in the garden to read anything.
„Cradock’s order of battle,” Christopher said. „Some of his troops are in Coimbra, but most are in Lisbon. In brief he has sixteen thousand British bayonets and seven thousand Portuguese. The details are all there, and you will note they are particularly deficient in artillery.”
„How deficient?”
„Three batteries of six-pounders,” Christopher said, „and one of three. There are rumors that more guns, heavier guns, are coming, but such rumors have always proved false in the past.”
„Three-pounders!” Vuillard laughed. „He might as well chuck rocks at us.” The Brigadier tapped the envelope. „So what do you want from us?”
Christopher walked a few paces in silence, then shrugged. „It seems to me, General, that Europe is going to be ruled from Paris, not from London. You’re going to put your own king here.”
„True,” Vuillard said, „and it might even be King Nicolas if he captures Lisbon quickly enough, but the Emperor has a stableful of idle brothers. One of those will probably get Portugal.”
„But whoever it is,” Christopher said, „I can be useful to him.”
„By giving us this”-Vuillard flourished the envelope-”and a few names that I can kick out of Argenton whenever I wish?”
„Like all soldiers,” Christopher said smoothly, „you are unsubtle. Once you conquer Portugal, General, you will have to pacify it. I know who can be trusted here, who will work with you and who are your secret enemies. I know which men say one thing and do another. I bring you all the knowledge of Britain’s Foreign Office. I know who spies for Britain and who their paymasters are. I know the codes they use and the routes their messages take. I know who will work for you and who will work against you. I know who will lie to you, and who will tell you the truth. In short, General, I can save you thousands of deaths unless, of course, you would rather send your troops against peasants in the hills?”
Vuillard chuckled. „And what if we don’t conquer Portugal? What happens to you if we withdraw?”
„Then I shall own Savages,” Christopher answered calmly, „and my masters at home will simply calculate that I failed to encourage mutiny in your ranks. But I doubt you’ll lose. What has stopped the Emperor so far?”
„La Manche,” Vuillard said dryly, meaning the English Channel. He drew on his cigar. „You came to me,” he said, „with news of mutinv.
„What is it?” It was too dark in the garden to read anything.
„Cradock’s order of battle,” Christopher said. „Some of his troops are in Coimbra, but most are in Lisbon. In brief he has sixteen thousand British bayonets and seven thousand Portuguese. The details are all there, and you will note they are particularly deficient in artillery.”
„How deficient?”
„Three batteries of six-pounders,” Christopher said, „and one of three. There are rumors that more guns, heavier guns, are coming, but such rumors have always proved false in the past.”
„Three-pounders!” Vuillard laughed. „He might as well chuck rocks at us.” The Brigadier tapped the envelope. „So what do you want from us?”
Christopher walked a few paces in silence, then shrugged. „It seems to me, General, that Europe is going to be ruled from Paris, not from London. You’re going to put your own king here.”
„True,” Vuillard said, „and it might even be King Nicolas if he captures Lisbon quickly enough, but the Emperor has a stableful of idle brothers. One of those will probably get Portugal.”
„But whoever it is,” Christopher said, „I can be useful to him.”
„By giving us this”-Vuillard flourished the envelope-”and a few names that I can kick out of Argenton whenever I wish?”
„Like all soldiers,” Christopher said smoothly, „you are unsubtle. Once you conquer Portugal, General, you will have to pacify it. I know who can be trusted here, who will work with you and who are your secret enemies. I know which men say one thing and do another. I bring you all the knowledge of Britain’s Foreign Office. I know who spies for Britain and who their paymasters are. I know the codes they use and the routes their messages take. I know who will work for you and who will work against you. I know who will lie to you, and who will tell you the truth. In short, General, I can save you thousands of deaths unless, of course, you would rather send your troops against peasants in the hills?”
Vuillard chuckled. „And what if we don’t conquer Portugal? What happens to you if we withdraw?”
„Then I shall own Savages,” Christopher answered calmly, „and my masters at home will simply calculate that I failed to encourage mutiny in your ranks. But I doubt you’ll lose. What has stopped the Emperor so far?”
„La Manche,” Vuillard said dryly, meaning the English Channel. He drew on his cigar. „You came to me,” he said, „with news of mutinv.