Hervey frowned. He’d seen a similar parade at the Canterbury depot before first going to Spain.

‘And do you know what happened next? The poor fellow seemed touched, and wept bitterly. For a time he could say nothing; but then, “I wish to God I was dead and out of your way, sir; I am an hopeless fellow, and I pray this flogging may be my last, and put me beyond the reach of that cursed and vile liquor which has been my ruin.” Well, the colonel and the whole regiment were now much affected, and many of the soldiers turned their heads. Seeing this, the colonel called the attention of the offender to the commiseration of his comrades, and the man did indeed seem much distressed. The colonel then said that he couldn’t bear to see his brother soldiers so much affected without removing the cause, and that his sentence, therefore, for their sakes, he’d remit, and, instead of the chastisement awarded him, would the man pledge, in the presence of his comrades, that he’d behave well in future? If so he would not only pardon him, but promise, when his conduct merited it, to promote him to the rank of corporal.’

Somervile leaned back in his chair. ‘A long story, but an instructive one. What next do you suppose happened?’

‘I imagine the man swore on his sainted mother’s grave that he’d mend his ways, and in six months was again arraigned for drunkenness.’

Somervile looked pained. He perfectly understood that his friend wasn’t a Sunday-school teacher, but he’d expected something a little nobler.

‘The astonished man called on his comrades to bear witness to his words, and in a most solemn manner protested his firm resolution to amend. A short time after, he was indeed promoted, and proved one of the best non-commissioned officers in the service.’

Hervey sighed. ‘The problem is that the case might also be said to prove the efficacy of flogging. Do so remorselessly enough and eventually the man will be made. While those that aren’t made don’t have the character in the first place.’

Somervile was no Sunday-schooler either, as Hervey well knew. He shook his head ruefully. ‘Quite. I did say that my informant said it was but one solitary instance.’

Hervey nodded equally ruefully. ‘Where, therefore, does this leave my dragoon?’

Somervile chortled. ‘Damn the business. I signed his commutation last night.’

* * *

‘Adjitan-sahib, colonel-sahib he come now!’ Sammy had already decanted coffee into the silver pot. From his lookout on the verandah he could see for half a mile, and no scout had sharper eyes.

St Alban was mildly surprised; he’d supposed that Hervey would spend the rest of the day at the Fort. ‘Well, Mr Kynaston, you had better sit yourself in the ante-room, and I’ll return to matters later.’

‘Sir.’

St Alban reckoned he just had time to change his shirt. ‘Qu’hai!’

His bearer came in an instant. ‘Saaph shart, Amit, shukria – jaldi.’

‘’Es, sahib – turant!’