Parry handed back the despatch. ‘Will it be met with favourably and promptly, General?’

Hervey smiled grimly, for he was without prospect of timely orders from civil authority. He had often said, though – indeed it had been his working principle – that it was easier to obtain forgiveness than permission. It pleased him greatly that he might claim the decision was justifiably his, though it disturbed him more than usual that there’d be no forgiveness for choosing ill.

‘Depend upon it, Parry.’

‘But when will Sir Eyre be returned?’

‘I can’t know. And it’s for that very reason that I say you may depend on it that the Company will act favourably and promptly. I myself shall take the decision.’

Whatever the mind of Fort William, he would at least have the consolation of knowing that his old friend would not be held responsible.

‘Shall I call for the brigadiers?’

‘A moment if you please. Where is the galloper?’

‘He waits outside, General.’

‘I would see him.’

Johnson brought him.

His coat bore the dust of the road still.

Hervey nodded to the salute. ‘Corporal Ledley.’

‘Colonel.’

‘Do you know what are the contents of the despatch?’

‘I do, Colonel. Captain Fairbrother told me to commit them to memory in case of mishap.’

‘You had no difficulty getting out of the city?’

‘No, Colonel. The captain ’as some trusties. They know their way about and we was able to go by other ways. They get in and out of the palace too.’

‘Capital. Bodyguard men?’

‘No, Colonel. The he-shes. They seems to come and go any way they pleases.’

‘The old game: Joshua had prostitutes, Fairbrother …’

‘Colonel?’

‘No matter.’ He turned to the brigade major. ‘Parry, sound for brigadiers and commanding officers.’

As the conference dispersed, Hervey spoke with Colonel Lindesay, who by seniority would in the event that he fell, take command. Lindesay had distinguished himself in Coorg, and was also, Hervey was certain, the right man to see through a siege if – God forbid – it came to that, but he impressed on him that his design was no more than deployment: what they found – when and wherever they found it – would determine what next. Bonaparte’s plans were like a splendid leather harness, the Duke of Wellington always said: perfect when it worked, but if it broke it couldn’t be mended; whereas he, the Duke, made his harness of ropes – never as good looking, but if it broke he could tie a knot and carry on.

‘You’ll be adept at tying knots, I fancy?’

Lindesay was older by at least ten years. He’d been a major two years before Hervey was a cornet, and had seen much service. A lesser man might resent the supersession.

‘General, just give me a little rope.’

Hervey laughed, and clapped him on the shoulder.

He spoke also to Colonel Maclean of the Thirteenth, and to Worsley, for both their commands were independent, and impressed on them the paramount need for gaining as complete a picture as possible and as quickly as possible – in the first twenty-four hours – for it would be their éclairage that determined what to do next.