‘Rubbish!’ Arthur said loudly. ‘You’ll be on your feet in a few days. I’m well enough acquainted with you to know that you simply will not be able to resist the urge to be back on your feet committing further mischief.’

‘Ah, is it possible that I am so transparent?’

‘Evidently.’

They exchanged a smile, and then Arthur continued quietly. ‘I’ve been sent here by Harris to take over from you and to investigate the incident. What happened, Henry?’

‘It was Major Allen. He took offence at my letter to him, and called me out soon after I arrived here.’

‘I warned you.’

‘You did, Arthur. I am sorry I paid you no heed. It was foolish of me.’

‘Yes, it was. But continue. He called you out. Why did you accept?’

Ashton looked surprised. ‘It was a matter of honour. There was no question of avoiding the issue. Allen fired first and hit me. I shot into the air.’

‘Why?’

‘He had wounded me. If it proves fatal what would it profit me to have killed him? The army would have lost two officers instead of one.’

Arthur stared at him for a moment and then shook his head. ‘Madness. That’s what it is, pure madness.’

‘You may be right, Arthur, but what’s done is done.’

‘Where is Allen now?’

‘I sent him to Vellore. He can train the men there until this blows over.’

‘I have orders to arrest him and prepare for a court martial.’

Ashton reached over and grasped Arthur’s hand. ‘No, I will not have Allen tried for this. He’s a good officer, and we need such men at the moment. He just needs to curb his temper, that’s all.’

‘Henry, I have my orders,’ Arthur said gently.

‘And I have my honour. Major Allen and I have had our satisfaction and the matter is closed. I pray you, do not pursue this any further.’ He stared at Arthur with blazing intensity and at length Arthur nodded.

‘Very well.’

He left the tent and found the lieutenant waiting outside. ‘Assemble the officers. I have an announcement to make.’

Arthur set to work on his new command at once. There were nearly twenty thousand men in the area surrounding Arnee, four thousand European troops and the rest made up from East India Company soldiers.The Company’s men had grown used to being dispersed on garrison duties across the territories ruled by Madras. Now they had been concentrated in their battalions and needed to be trained to fight and march in large formations. Ashton had begun the task and Arthur saw to it that his regimen continued to be carried out, and then turned his attention to the issue of supplying the army in the coming campaign. He sent word to every brinjarri chief in the south of India, inviting them to Arnee to bid for contracts to carry the army’s food and equipment.