‘Sir, you are not bound. As you pointed out, you are merely obliged to be guided by certain principles. Now is not the time for principles, but practicalities. The army of Madras needs a siege train, and I would urge you to co-operate with me so that General Harris goes to war with the means to actually win.’>

Webbe stared back at him for a moment and Arthur hoped that the man had seen reason. Then the secretary spoke again, in a lower tone. ‘Don’t think I don’t know why your brother sent you here, Wellesley. He wants a war with Tipoo and means to get one whatever it takes. You are here to apply pressure to Harris, Lord Clive and officials like me. It’s painfully obvious why Mornington wants this war. He embraces the highest political ambitions and sees a victory over Tipoo as being a means to that end. Is that not so?’

Arthur folded his arms and smiled faintly. ‘Do you deny that Tipoo is a threat?’

‘No. That’s not it at all. I just want peace in India. Peace, so that the Company can go about its business in an orderly and profitable manner.That’s why we are in India, Colonel. For profit, not political or diplomatic advantage. War is an expensive business and we would do well to avoid it by any and all means necessary, as I have explained to your brother and Lord Clive. Fortunately, the new Governor of Madras is a man who shares my vision on this matter.’

‘This isn’t about my brother’s glorification,’ Arthur responded. ‘He no more wants war with Tipoo than you do. If Tipoo wasn’t expanding his army, or going to such great lengths to win the favour of the revolutionaries in France, then we could ignore him and go about our business here, just as you would wish. Did you know that our latest intelligence is that he now goes by the title of Citizen Tipoo?’

Webbe waved his hand dismissively. ‘A childish indulgence. Nothing more than that.’