‘Then you don’t know India.’

Fairbrother frowned. ‘I am sorry to find you in such poor spirits.’

Hervey took another sip of his wine. They would need another bottle soon.

‘Tell me: the dewan …’

‘That doesn’t trouble you, does it?’

‘The Ranee asked. I said he was killed trying to flee.’

‘He was. Would she have had him exiled instead?’

‘No. She was excessively pleased to learn of it. I believe she had a fear he would haunt the place somehow, a martyr’s death to his followers.’

‘Well, he’d few followers when he died. One of your serjeants found him with just a bodyman, and he jumped to escape. He fell heavily but he was scrambling for the gate. I didn’t know rightly it was him, but if he’d got into that horde outside we’d never have known.’

Hervey nodded.

‘I’m only sorry I hadn’t the satisfaction of knowing it when I fired. But at least I may tell Colonel Bell that I avenged his wife’s murder.’

‘Indeed so. I confess I quite dread to see him tomorrow.’

‘But then you too can claim the same.’

‘I suppose so – but in truth it was the snake.’

‘Ah, so you haven’t had tell?’

‘Tell what?’

‘They found the sampera afterwards and took him to fish it out so they could get the body to the pyre. Its mouth was sewn up. They only ever used the pit to fright.’

Hervey shook his head slowly. ‘This … country.’

XXVII

The Fruits of Victory

St Mary’s Church, Fort St George, two months later

TO THE MEMORY OF

LIEUT. COLONEL CHARLES MILL

HIS MAJESTY’S 55TH REGIMENT

KILLED ON THE 3RD OF APRIL 1834 WHILST GALLANTLY LEADING ON HIS REGIMENT TO THE ATTACK AGAINST THE STOCKADE OF SOMARPETT, IN THE TERRITORY OF HIS HIGHNESS THE RAJAH OF COORG. EMINENTLY DISTINGUISHED AS A SOLDIER THROUGH A PERIOD OF NEARLY FORTY YEARS, HE SERVED WITH THE BRITISH ARMY DURING ITS MOST EVENTFUL EPOCHS: AND HIS EXAMPLE OF COURAGE AND GALLANTRY INSPIRED HIS FOLLOWERS ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH THAT BRAVERY AND FORTITUDE SO CONSPICUOUS AT THE ASSAULT IN WHICH HE FELL. IN PRIVATE LIFE HE WAS UNIVERSALLY ESTEEMED. DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF HIS REGIMENT AND THE HAPPINESS OF THOSE WHO SERVED UNDER HIM, HIS MEMORY WILL LONG BE CHERISHED WITH SENTIMENT OF THE HIGHEST RESPECT, AND HIS PREMATURE DEATH CONTINUE A SOURCE OF THE DEEPEST REGRET TO ALL, MORE PARTICULARLY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS WHO HAVE IN HIM LOST A BRAVE LEADER, AND A KIND FRIEND, AND WHO HAVE ERECTED THIS TABLET IN TRIBUTE TO HIS WORTH.

ÆTAT. 54.

Fifty-four years of age – ten years and more his senior – and still commanding a battalion. Yet Mill was held in greater esteem than many a general. What therefore did he, Hervey, have to regret in being still at the head of so fine a corps as the Sixth?

Nothing.

The regiment was in as great a state of efficiency as it was possible – certainly as it was reasonable – to conceive. He would wager that he had the finest of officers of any in His Majesty’s Land Forces. He had non-commissioned officers who’d be the envy of many a colonel, thanks to Armstrong and those who’d gone before. But these things could not abide: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes, ‘The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem’, words he returned to often, for they spoke truly. Now especially, perhaps, the Preacher’s peroration was apt: Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?