Hervey smiled. He’d seen the long spear catch a rival’s leg time enough – and worse; at least the shorter jobbing spear was wielded with less hazard. ‘No, perhaps not; but the rival spears can shift for themselves.’

‘Just so, Colonel.’

‘Very well. And that, I suppose, is that?’

St Alban raised an eyebrow. ‘I fear not quite. Channer has got himself into a fix: “Crim con” with Mrs Ellison, and Captain Ellison demands satisfaction.’

Hervey groaned. Criminal conversation – the common-law tort arising from adultery; but the injured party wishing to settle it with pistols rather than the court. Which was as well, perhaps, for Lieutenant Channer had no money to speak of. Yet an affair of honour rarely in his experience did honour to either party. He passed no judgement on Channer (how could he, indeed, given his former amour with Lady Katherine Greville?), but officers duelling, besides the question of homicide, was not edifying. ‘Who, precisely, is Captain Ellison?’

‘He is new, of the Engineers, the Survey to be precise.’

‘And Mr Channer has wasted no time, evidently. You have forbidden him to give satisfaction, I take it?’

‘He refuses anyway.’

Hervey’s mouth fell open. ‘Does he, indeed.’

St Alban cleared his throat. ‘He says … He says he gave satisfaction to Mrs Ellison and he fails to see why a man should be obliged to give more.’

Hervey angered. ‘That is impudent as well as unbecoming. I trust it was not his reply to Ellison himself?’

‘I fear it was, and in others’ hearing.’

Hervey sighed. There was a rule, an understanding at least, that while a superior officer mayn’t seduce the wife of a junior, the wife of a superior could bestow her favours as she wished. Both acts were abominable in the eyes of God, of course, but not in King’s Regulations (the latter act being no abuse of rank). In all things, however, discretion was the better part, both during and afterwards.

‘How do we know of all this?’

St Alban again raised an eyebrow. (As well ask a priest what his penitent had revealed as ask an adjutant how he came by his information.)

‘Very well,’ said Hervey; ‘So not a matter to be settled quietly.’

‘No. And in the meantime I’ve detailed Channer for duty at Bangalore. Waterman too.’ (He disliked them both – Channer from Eton, where he’d thought him a blackguard.)

‘Very well, I’ll think on it.’

‘And that is all, Colonel.’

‘Then if you’ll leave me in peace for an hour and Sammy will bring more coffee, I shall write the quarterly report to Lord George … You’ll dine with our family party tomorrow, I hope? I intend shooting duck with Captain Fairbrother this evening.’

‘With pleasure, Colonel.’ St Alban rose and made to leave.

‘By the bye. Where is the moonshee? Georgiana is keen to continue the instruction she had on the passage out.’

‘I don’t know, Colonel. I asked the same only yesterday of the quartermaster. He said the moonshee’d told him he’d be back before the monsoon.’