JК
Sharpes Sword :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 33 из 213“Helena, La Marquesade tiddly-tum and tummly-tid, and the object of an army’s combined lust. Shall I tell her you’ll come?” His voice was relaxed and friendly.
“You’re Lord Spears?”
“Yes!” Spears unleashed all his charm on Sharpe. “By the Grace of God and the timely bloody death of my elder brother. But you can call me Jack, everyone else does.”
Sharpe looked again at the note. Her handwriting was childishly round, like his own. “I have other business tonight.”
“Other business!” Spears’ cry of mock amazement made some of the promenading Salamantines look curiously at the young, handsome cavalry officer. “Other business! My dear Sharpe! What other business could possibly be more important than attempting to breach the fair Helena?”
Sharpe was embarrassed. He knew Lord Spears was being friendly, but Sharpe’s encounter with the Marquesa had made him feel shabby and inadequate. “I have to see Major Hogan. Do you know him?”
“Know him?” Spears grinned. “He’s my lord and master. Of course I know Michael, but you won’t see him tonight, not unless you go south a couple of hundred miles.”
“You work for him?”
“He’s kind enough to call it work.” Spears grinned. “I’m one of his Exploring Officers.”
Sharpe looked at the young Lord with a new respect. The Exploring Officers rode far behind enemy lines, wearing full uniform so they could not be accused of spying, and relying on their swift, corn-fed horses to ride them out of trouble. They sent back a stream of information about enemy movements, entrusting their messages and maps to Spanish messengers. It was a lonely, brave life. Spears laughed. “I’ve impressed the great Sharpe, how wonderful! Was it important to see Michael?”
Sharpe shrugged. In truth he had used Hogan’s name as an excuse for avoiding La Marquesa’s invitation. “I wanted to ask him about Colonel Leroux.”
“That prize little bastard.” For the first time there was something other than gaiety in Spears’ voice. “You should have killed him.” Spears had evidently overheard the priest’s brief conversation with La Marquesa.
“You know him?”
Spears touched the sling. “Who do you think did this? He nearly caught me one dark night last week. I tumbled out of a window to escape him.” He smiled again. “Not very gallant, but I didn’t fancy the noble line of Spears coming to an end in a Spanish fleapit.” He clapped Sharpe’s shoulder with his free hand.
“You’re Lord Spears?”
“Yes!” Spears unleashed all his charm on Sharpe. “By the Grace of God and the timely bloody death of my elder brother. But you can call me Jack, everyone else does.”
Sharpe looked again at the note. Her handwriting was childishly round, like his own. “I have other business tonight.”
“Other business!” Spears’ cry of mock amazement made some of the promenading Salamantines look curiously at the young, handsome cavalry officer. “Other business! My dear Sharpe! What other business could possibly be more important than attempting to breach the fair Helena?”
Sharpe was embarrassed. He knew Lord Spears was being friendly, but Sharpe’s encounter with the Marquesa had made him feel shabby and inadequate. “I have to see Major Hogan. Do you know him?”
“Know him?” Spears grinned. “He’s my lord and master. Of course I know Michael, but you won’t see him tonight, not unless you go south a couple of hundred miles.”
“You work for him?”
“He’s kind enough to call it work.” Spears grinned. “I’m one of his Exploring Officers.”
Sharpe looked at the young Lord with a new respect. The Exploring Officers rode far behind enemy lines, wearing full uniform so they could not be accused of spying, and relying on their swift, corn-fed horses to ride them out of trouble. They sent back a stream of information about enemy movements, entrusting their messages and maps to Spanish messengers. It was a lonely, brave life. Spears laughed. “I’ve impressed the great Sharpe, how wonderful! Was it important to see Michael?”
Sharpe shrugged. In truth he had used Hogan’s name as an excuse for avoiding La Marquesa’s invitation. “I wanted to ask him about Colonel Leroux.”
“That prize little bastard.” For the first time there was something other than gaiety in Spears’ voice. “You should have killed him.” Spears had evidently overheard the priest’s brief conversation with La Marquesa.
“You know him?”
Spears touched the sling. “Who do you think did this? He nearly caught me one dark night last week. I tumbled out of a window to escape him.” He smiled again. “Not very gallant, but I didn’t fancy the noble line of Spears coming to an end in a Spanish fleapit.” He clapped Sharpe’s shoulder with his free hand.