Arthur emerged from the shadows into the middle of the alley where his men could see him clearly. He raised his arm and then swept it down in the direction of the ramparts. The men hurried forward, down into the stinking trench, and doubled over as they splashed beneath the wall of the camp and emerged on the far side, spreading out to either side of the latrine drain. Arthur was one of the first men through, and made his way over to Kirkpatrick. Behind him the sepoys filed under the wall and spread out in the shadows beneath the ramparts.

Arthur glanced towards the eastern horizon. ‘We have to move fast. It’ll be light soon.You know what you have to do. Any last questions?’

‘None, sir.’

‘Good. Then you’d better go. Remember, there’s to be no killing, if you can avoid it. There’s to be no blood on British hands.’

Kirkpatrick nodded solemnly. ‘I understand, sir.’

‘Then I’ll see you afterwards.’

‘In this life or the next, eh, sir?’ Kirkpatrick grinned nervously.

‘If it comes to that. Now go.’

Kirkpatrick saluted and turned to trot away to the two companies under his command. He gestured to them to follow him and led the way along the foot of the wall towards the arsenal. Arthur waited a moment, listening for any indication that the alarm had been raised. But the camp was silent and Arthur whispered the order for his men to advance in the opposite direction. They passed several huge barrack blocks that stretched into the heart of the Nizam’s camp before they reached the stabling for the officers’ horses that Kirkpatrick had told him of. On the other side of a generous riding ring was the fine two-storey officers’ mess and sleeping quarters. A large lantern cast a pool of light over the entrance, either side of which a guard sat on a bench, musket in hand.Again Arthur glanced to the east, and this time there was an unmistakable smear of light along the horizon.There was no time left to attempt an indirect approach. Already, the first men would be stirring.

Arthur realised at once that he had only one chance. He turned to the subadar at the head of the two companies stretched out behind him. ‘I need a good man to help me. Quickly.’

The subadar called along the line and a moment later a burly man with a square-cut beard emerged from the darkness and stood to attention before Arthur.

‘Come with me,’ Arthur ordered in Hindoostani. ‘When we reach the entrance to that building we must silence the sentries. When I give the order and not before.’

‘Yes, sahib.’

‘All right, then . . .Subadar, when you see me wave, bring the sepoys over on the double.’ He turned back to the thickset man. ‘Come with me.’