‘What do you propose to do, Colonel?’

‘What can I do? The Ranee entombs a nautch girl beneath her own bedchamber so she can hear her groans. You might imagine there’d be someone in the palace who’d take objection.’

‘I gained the distinct impression that fear would overcome any objection.’

‘Just so. Torture one; frighten a thousand.’ He turned suddenly and took the reins from the syce. ‘Edward, go see that Georgiana’s safe. Have a corporal with her till I’m back. I shan’t know how to proceed until I’ve spoken with Bell. Let’s hope he’s as forthcoming as you say.’

Colonel Bell’s quarters were just as St Alban described: a fine old ghar in several acres of rhododendrons on the southern fringe of the city. There were hoopoes pecking on a very passable-looking lawn, a table and half a dozen cane chairs in the middle, and children playing – fairish-skinned children but dark-haired, the usual issue of British officers and their Rajpoot bibis.

The colonel greeted him warmly, rising from his chair with the help of a stick and calling for his bearer to bring lime water. St Alban had said he thought the old warrior might have ‘gone Hindoo’ – although he hadn’t quite made namaskar – but although he wore a long white dhoti and mogul slippers, and shooed his children away in an accent that was more Dehli than Fort William (or, indeed, his native Scotland), it was not long before Hervey could fancy himself at the Horse Guards.

‘Read of yer doings at Coorg, General. Admirable economy of effort. Sit ye down.’

Hervey told him the rank had been contingent on command of the field force, and that he’d thereby reverted, and that he’d simply not supposed his name would be known anywhere outside the military pales (a full despatch had been printed in the usual places) – and if it had been known, had soon been forgotten.

‘Oh, it was read of here with great attention, I assure you. Indeed, as soon as I mentioned it to the Ranee she insisted on seeing it for herself.’

‘The Ranee?’

Colonel Bell laughed. ‘Of course! I imagine every ruler of every princely state’s read it. They’d like to know how their little kingdom’s to be annexed!’

Hervey suddenly realized there was two and two to be put together. If the Ranee had read accounts of Coorg she’d have seen his rank as brigadier-general. If he were now colonel but with general rank about to be granted again, it would suggest another field force was assembling. And if another field force was assembling …

He measured his words carefully. ‘It makes for salutary reading, I suppose. Sic semper tyrannus?’

‘Ah, so you suppose the Ranee to be a tyrant?’

Hervey shrugged.

‘You don’t suppose she might retain an interest in one who served her father so well?’

Hervey frowned. ‘And in consequence saw her banished to the forest of the Gonds?’

‘These things are taken as part and parcel of life in India, Colonel Hervey. But you’ll concede, will ye no, that the appearance of General Hervey at any prince’s seat will set the doocots aflutter?’