JК
Sharpes Gold :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 146 из 179He wondered how El Catolico had obliterated the writing round the edge of the coin, but then thought how he would do it himself with a file, or by hammering the soft gold flat.
Cox sighed. 'You will deliver the gold to Colonel Jovellanos and his men, and you will do it quickly. Is that understood?
'Yes, sir. Understood! He was standing ramrod straight, staring at a point just above Cox's head.
The Brigadier sighed. 'I don't think it is, Captain. Cox sat down wearily, pulled a sheet of paper towards him, uncapped his ink, and took a fresh goose-quill. 'At ten o'clock tomorrow morning, Captain, twenty-seventh August 1810. He was writing quickly, paraphrasing the formal order as the quill scratched on the paper. 'A detachment of my troops will take charge of the bullion… He paused; the room listened to the scrape of the pen. … Led by…" Cox looked round the room, found one of his officers. … Colonel Barrios. Barrios nodded, a formal gesture. 'You, Colonel, will deliver the gold to Colonel Jovellanos, who will be ready to leave at the north gate. El Catolico nodded, clicked his heels for attention. Cox looked up. 'Colonel?
El Catolico smiled. His voice was at its silkiest. 'I was hoping to persuade you, sir, to allow myself and some of my men to stay and help in your gallant defence."
Sharpe could not believe it. The bastard. He had as much intention of staying as Sharpe had of handing over the gold.
Cox smiled, blinked with pleasure. 'That's uncommonly decent of you, Colonel. He gestured at the paper. 'Does it change anything?
'Only that the gold, sir, could be handed to Senor Moreno, or one of my Lieutenants.
'Of course, of course. Cox dipped the quill, scratched out some words. 'To the Spanish contingent of Colonel Jovellanos. He raised an eyebrow to El Catolico. 'I think that covers it.
El Catolico bowed. 'Thank you, sir. He shot a look of triumph at Sharpe. 'And, sir? El Catolico bowed again. 'Could the transfer be tonight?
Sharpe held his breath, let it out slowly as Cox spoke. The Brigadier was frowning, looking at the paper.
'Ten o'clock will do, Colonel. Sharpe suspected he did not want to cross out the top lines of the closely written order. Cox smiled at El Catolico, gestured at Sharpe. 'After all, Captain Sharpe can hardly leave!
El Catolico smiled politely. 'As you say, sir.
So what was the bastard playing at? Why the suggestion that he might stay on? Sharpe stared at the tall Spaniard, trying to fathom the motive. Could it be just to curry favour with Cox? Sharpe doubted it; the Spaniard was getting most of what he wanted without trying.
Cox sighed. 'You will deliver the gold to Colonel Jovellanos and his men, and you will do it quickly. Is that understood?
'Yes, sir. Understood! He was standing ramrod straight, staring at a point just above Cox's head.
The Brigadier sighed. 'I don't think it is, Captain. Cox sat down wearily, pulled a sheet of paper towards him, uncapped his ink, and took a fresh goose-quill. 'At ten o'clock tomorrow morning, Captain, twenty-seventh August 1810. He was writing quickly, paraphrasing the formal order as the quill scratched on the paper. 'A detachment of my troops will take charge of the bullion… He paused; the room listened to the scrape of the pen. … Led by…" Cox looked round the room, found one of his officers. … Colonel Barrios. Barrios nodded, a formal gesture. 'You, Colonel, will deliver the gold to Colonel Jovellanos, who will be ready to leave at the north gate. El Catolico nodded, clicked his heels for attention. Cox looked up. 'Colonel?
El Catolico smiled. His voice was at its silkiest. 'I was hoping to persuade you, sir, to allow myself and some of my men to stay and help in your gallant defence."
Sharpe could not believe it. The bastard. He had as much intention of staying as Sharpe had of handing over the gold.
Cox smiled, blinked with pleasure. 'That's uncommonly decent of you, Colonel. He gestured at the paper. 'Does it change anything?
'Only that the gold, sir, could be handed to Senor Moreno, or one of my Lieutenants.
'Of course, of course. Cox dipped the quill, scratched out some words. 'To the Spanish contingent of Colonel Jovellanos. He raised an eyebrow to El Catolico. 'I think that covers it.
El Catolico bowed. 'Thank you, sir. He shot a look of triumph at Sharpe. 'And, sir? El Catolico bowed again. 'Could the transfer be tonight?
Sharpe held his breath, let it out slowly as Cox spoke. The Brigadier was frowning, looking at the paper.
'Ten o'clock will do, Colonel. Sharpe suspected he did not want to cross out the top lines of the closely written order. Cox smiled at El Catolico, gestured at Sharpe. 'After all, Captain Sharpe can hardly leave!
El Catolico smiled politely. 'As you say, sir.
So what was the bastard playing at? Why the suggestion that he might stay on? Sharpe stared at the tall Spaniard, trying to fathom the motive. Could it be just to curry favour with Cox? Sharpe doubted it; the Spaniard was getting most of what he wanted without trying.