Hervey thought for a moment. ‘As the orders come ultimately from Fort William, I must exercise the right to represent my opinion in person.’

Somervile nodded. ‘Were I in your position, I should do likewise. And I’m perfectly willing to go along with it, but Fort William might overrule it, and then where’d you be? Let’s at least proceed on the assumption that sound sense will prevail, and make plans accordingly.’

Hervey sighed heavily. What indeed was the alternative? There might be one or two who’d likewise refuse the command if he did, but ultimately there’d be one for whom promotion would be too great a temptation. And such a one who’d commit to so unpromising a venture would doubtless be the one least likely to bring it off.

‘You are in the right.’

Somervile nodded again, but with a look of profound relief.

‘Qu’hai!’

His khansamah appeared at once, like a djinn from the lamp.

‘More coffee, please, Bulwunt.’

And thus the bargain was sealed. Hervey smiled. ‘I want to send two or three good men to Fairbrother. I’d have left a cornet and dozen, but it might have invited suspicion, so just two corporals.’

‘You did well to place him there. I still have no word who it is Fort William intends appointing. Indeed, I wonder that they’ll be disposed to appoint anyone to be agent, in the circumstances. Nor that anyone will be inclined to accept, given the intention to depose the Ranee. A more perilous plum to pull I can scarce imagine!’

‘We are greatly bounden to Fairbrother. Acharya accepted him readily enough, but as soon as he gets wind of our approach …’

‘The thought had not escaped me,’ said Somervile gravely. ‘He must have some honour when the time comes.’

In the afternoon, Hervey went to see the 13th Light Dragoons, arrived from Bangalore the previous day. He found them well set up in tents and billets near the fort, but with fewer men than expected, and their commanding officer distinctly embarrassed by it.

‘It’s the deucedest thing, Hervey. I have every able man save the quarter guard here, and my sabre strength’s barely three hundred. Fifteen years in India and its depredations.’

Hervey was sympathetic. He’d known their colonel since the Peninsula, Allan Maclean, scion of the Highland clan whose name he bore. He was but a couple of years his younger, yet had only lately come to command; but Hervey knew he wouldn’t shrink from the present unhappy odds if it came to it.

They walked the lines without formality beyond the usual compliments. ‘I would that you return the salutes, not I,’ said Hervey, ‘for I’m not dressed as a general, and it would only sow confusion if you failed to acknowledge them.’

All but the duty NCOs and picket officer were in watering order – white canvas overalls, looser cut than the parade dress worsted, and blue cotton-duck coatees. They too had been obliged to change to red when the new King had come to the throne (disliking, as he did, seeing soldiers in the colour he regarded as proper only for his sailors, among which, at heart, he remained).