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Sharpes Gold :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 129 из 179The castle and cathedral were close to the northern gate where they had entered, and the big Plaza seemed to be the only inhabited place in the town. Sharpe looked for Knowles.
'Lieutenant?
'Sir?
'Go to the lower town. You'll find billets. Knock a house open. There were dozens of empty houses. 'Meet me back here. Sergeant?"
Harper came alongside the horse and Sharpe gestured at Teresa. 'She'll need a room. I'll join the Company when I'm finished here.
Harper grinned. 'Yes, sir.
Cox's headquarters were dark inside and Kearsey, Sharpe, and Lossow waited in an echoing hallway while a sleepy orderly went upstairs. The German officer grinned.
'In bed! Lucky man!
'Major! Cox was at the top of the stairs, his hair ruffled, dressed in a long red gown belted at his waist. 'You're back! A moment! Go into the drawing-room. Candles!
Sharpe pulled back a heavy velvet curtain and across the Plaza could see the dark shape of the squat cathedral. There was a bustle behind him as Portuguese servants brought in candles and tapers, wine and food, and he let the curtain drop and sat, exhausted, in a deep, comfortable chair. Down the road, he thought, in the morning. One last effort, one last surprise attack, and it was done. He helped himself to the wine, offered some to Lossow, ignored the disapproving look from Kearsey.
The door opened. 'You helped yourself. Good! Cox had pulled on a shirt and trousers, brushed his hair, and he nodded amicably at Sharpe. 'Captain. Captain Lossow. What can I do for you?
Sharpe sat up, surprised. Did Cox not know? He exchanged a glance with Lossow; they both looked at Kearsey, expecting him to speak, but the Major sat tight-lipped. Sharpe put down his wine.
'You know about the gold, sir?
Cox nodded; a shadow on his face hid the expression, but Sharpe thought it was guarded. 'I know, Captain.
'We have it, sir. We must take it to Celorico. We wanted to feed the horses, rest, and leave at dawn. With your permission, sir, we'd like the western gate opened an hour before first light.
Cox nodded, leaned over and poured himself a small glass of wine. 'Whose gold is it?
Sharpe felt an immense burden come back. 'I am under orders from Lord Wellington, sir. Orders that tell me to take the gold to him.
Cox's eyebrows shot up. 'Good! Let me see the orders, then!
Sharpe glanced at Kearsey, who reddened. The Major cleared his throat. 'The orders were accidentally destroyed, sir. No blame to Captain Sharpe.
Cox's hope seemed to diminish. He peered at Kearsey over his wine.
'Lieutenant?
'Sir?
'Go to the lower town. You'll find billets. Knock a house open. There were dozens of empty houses. 'Meet me back here. Sergeant?"
Harper came alongside the horse and Sharpe gestured at Teresa. 'She'll need a room. I'll join the Company when I'm finished here.
Harper grinned. 'Yes, sir.
Cox's headquarters were dark inside and Kearsey, Sharpe, and Lossow waited in an echoing hallway while a sleepy orderly went upstairs. The German officer grinned.
'In bed! Lucky man!
'Major! Cox was at the top of the stairs, his hair ruffled, dressed in a long red gown belted at his waist. 'You're back! A moment! Go into the drawing-room. Candles!
Sharpe pulled back a heavy velvet curtain and across the Plaza could see the dark shape of the squat cathedral. There was a bustle behind him as Portuguese servants brought in candles and tapers, wine and food, and he let the curtain drop and sat, exhausted, in a deep, comfortable chair. Down the road, he thought, in the morning. One last effort, one last surprise attack, and it was done. He helped himself to the wine, offered some to Lossow, ignored the disapproving look from Kearsey.
The door opened. 'You helped yourself. Good! Cox had pulled on a shirt and trousers, brushed his hair, and he nodded amicably at Sharpe. 'Captain. Captain Lossow. What can I do for you?
Sharpe sat up, surprised. Did Cox not know? He exchanged a glance with Lossow; they both looked at Kearsey, expecting him to speak, but the Major sat tight-lipped. Sharpe put down his wine.
'You know about the gold, sir?
Cox nodded; a shadow on his face hid the expression, but Sharpe thought it was guarded. 'I know, Captain.
'We have it, sir. We must take it to Celorico. We wanted to feed the horses, rest, and leave at dawn. With your permission, sir, we'd like the western gate opened an hour before first light.
Cox nodded, leaned over and poured himself a small glass of wine. 'Whose gold is it?
Sharpe felt an immense burden come back. 'I am under orders from Lord Wellington, sir. Orders that tell me to take the gold to him.
Cox's eyebrows shot up. 'Good! Let me see the orders, then!
Sharpe glanced at Kearsey, who reddened. The Major cleared his throat. 'The orders were accidentally destroyed, sir. No blame to Captain Sharpe.
Cox's hope seemed to diminish. He peered at Kearsey over his wine.