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Sharpes Gold :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 130 из 179'You saw them? What did they say?
'That all officers should render assistance to Captain Sharpe. Kearsey spoke in a neutral voice.
Cox nodded. 'And Sharpe is taking the gold to Lord Wellington, right?
Sharpe nodded, but Kearsey interrupted. 'The orders did not say, sir.
'For God's sake, sir! Sharpe exploded, but Cox banged on the table.
'Did your orders specifically mention the gold?
'No, sir.
Sharpe damned Kearsey for his quibbling honesty. Without the Major's last remark the Light Company might be homeward-bound in a few hours. Cox's fingers drummed on the table.
'I have a problem, gentlemen. He pulled papers towards him, muttered something about tidiness, and held out a thick piece of parchment, sealed with a heavy wax circle, and waved it in the candlelight. 'A request from the Spanish government, our allies, that the gold does not pass through British hands. Damned strange, really.
Lossow coughed. 'Strange, sir?
Cox nodded. 'Fellow arrives today, full fig, and tells me about the gold. It was the first I knew about it. He's got an escort for it. Spanish Colonel. He's called Jovellanos.
Sharpe looked at Kearsey. He knew the answer. 'Jovellanos?
'El Catolico. Kearsey stretched for the piece of paper and held the seal up to the candle before reading the words. 'It's in order, sir. Genuine.
'How the hell can it be in order? Sharpe's right hand was gripped tight into a fist. 'He's a bloody bandit! A crook! He wrote the damned thing himself! We have orders, sir, from the General. From Lord Wellington. That gold goes to Celorico!
Cox, who had been friendly, scowled at Sharpe. 'I see no need for anger, Captain Sharpe. Colonel Jovellanos is here, my guest.
'But, sir' — Lossow broke in, glancing at Sharpe sympathetically — 'Captain Sharpe speaks the truth. We were told that the gold was important. It had to go to the lord Wellington.
Cox took a deep breath, let it out, tapped his toe on the floor. 'God damn it, gentlemen, I am facing a siege which will begin any day now. The enemy's guns are in sight, the placements are being dug, and you bring me this?
Sharpe repeated doggedly, 'We have orders, sir.
'So you say. Cox picked up the paper. 'Is there a junta for Castile?
Kearsey nodded. 'Yes, sir.
'And does Joaquim Jovellanos have authority from it?
Kearsey nodded again.
'And the gold is theirs?
The nod again.
The paper dropped on to the table. 'The General gave me no orders!
Sharpe sighed.
'That all officers should render assistance to Captain Sharpe. Kearsey spoke in a neutral voice.
Cox nodded. 'And Sharpe is taking the gold to Lord Wellington, right?
Sharpe nodded, but Kearsey interrupted. 'The orders did not say, sir.
'For God's sake, sir! Sharpe exploded, but Cox banged on the table.
'Did your orders specifically mention the gold?
'No, sir.
Sharpe damned Kearsey for his quibbling honesty. Without the Major's last remark the Light Company might be homeward-bound in a few hours. Cox's fingers drummed on the table.
'I have a problem, gentlemen. He pulled papers towards him, muttered something about tidiness, and held out a thick piece of parchment, sealed with a heavy wax circle, and waved it in the candlelight. 'A request from the Spanish government, our allies, that the gold does not pass through British hands. Damned strange, really.
Lossow coughed. 'Strange, sir?
Cox nodded. 'Fellow arrives today, full fig, and tells me about the gold. It was the first I knew about it. He's got an escort for it. Spanish Colonel. He's called Jovellanos.
Sharpe looked at Kearsey. He knew the answer. 'Jovellanos?
'El Catolico. Kearsey stretched for the piece of paper and held the seal up to the candle before reading the words. 'It's in order, sir. Genuine.
'How the hell can it be in order? Sharpe's right hand was gripped tight into a fist. 'He's a bloody bandit! A crook! He wrote the damned thing himself! We have orders, sir, from the General. From Lord Wellington. That gold goes to Celorico!
Cox, who had been friendly, scowled at Sharpe. 'I see no need for anger, Captain Sharpe. Colonel Jovellanos is here, my guest.
'But, sir' — Lossow broke in, glancing at Sharpe sympathetically — 'Captain Sharpe speaks the truth. We were told that the gold was important. It had to go to the lord Wellington.
Cox took a deep breath, let it out, tapped his toe on the floor. 'God damn it, gentlemen, I am facing a siege which will begin any day now. The enemy's guns are in sight, the placements are being dug, and you bring me this?
Sharpe repeated doggedly, 'We have orders, sir.
'So you say. Cox picked up the paper. 'Is there a junta for Castile?
Kearsey nodded. 'Yes, sir.
'And does Joaquim Jovellanos have authority from it?
Kearsey nodded again.
'And the gold is theirs?
The nod again.
The paper dropped on to the table. 'The General gave me no orders!
Sharpe sighed.