The horses’ hooves echoed off the walls of the arched gateway and then Arthur emerged into the courtyard of the fort. Three sides of the paved area were lined with ranks of soldiers, save for a gap directly opposite the gate where steps climbed up to the inner keep. In front of the steps stood a crowd of gaudily uniformed officers, and before them a large, very overweight officer sat on a horse. His uniform coat seemed to be so smothered with bejewelled decorations, ribbons and gold lace that Arthur wondered how his horse could endure such a burden. Two men stood either side of the horse, firmly grasping the rider’s boots, and Arthur realised that they were there to hold him in place and stop him toppling out of his saddle.

An order was shouted and the soldiers stamped to attention and presented their muskets. A quick glance showed that these men were in the same sorry condition as those outside the gate. Arthur gestured to the lieutenant to halt the escort and then continued across the courtyard alone, stopping his horse a short distance in front of the other man. O’Donoju had wheeled his horse round and stood by his commander’s side, ready to interpret.

Arthur cleared his throat. ‘I am Sir Arthur Wellesley, commander of his majesty’s army in the Peninsula. I take it that I am addressing his excellency General Cuesta?’

The man nodded his heavy jowls and spoke curtly.

‘His excellency wants to know why you are late, Sir Arthur,’ said O’Donoju.

‘You know why, but just tell his excellency that we lost our way in the dark.’

Cuesta’s lips lifted in a slight sneer as he spoke to his interpreter.

‘His excellency trusts that you will not make a habit of leading your men in the wrong direction.’

‘Assure him that it will not happen again, and that I hope that we might both lead our men in the direction of victory from now on.’

The answer seemed to gratify the old officer, who Arthur guessed must be in his sixties at least. He muttered to O’Donoju and then growled an order at the two men propping him up. At once they began to help him down from his saddle with much grunting of effort as O’Donoju bowed to Arthur.

‘His excellency will wait for you in his office, while you are introduced to his staff.’

Arthur glanced at the crowd of officers. ‘What? All of them?’