' ‘The men, during the march, should keep their files, and no indecent language or noise be allowed’.

'God! I missed that one. Nairn grinned. 'You will note that the book has an introduction by my friend the Chaplain General. He recommends frequent divine service to keep the men quiet and ordered.

Sharpe closed the book. 'So why is he a problem?

'Because Colonel Sir Augustus Farthingdale has taken himself a wife. A Portuguese wife. Some filly of a good family, it seems, but a Papist. God knows what the Chaplain General would say to that! Anyway, this spring flower of Sir Augustus' autumn wants to go to Adrados to pray at some bloody shrine where miracles are two a penny and guess who meets her there. Pot-au-Feu. Lady Farthingdale is now a hostage. If any troops go within five miles of Adrados they'll turn her over to the rapists and murderers who make up their ranks. On the other hand, Sir Augustus can have her back on payment of five hundred guineas.

Sharpe whistled, Nairn grinned. 'Aye, it's a pretty price for a pair of legs to wrap round you in bed. Anyway, Sir Augustus swears the price is fair, that he will do anything, anything to bring his bride safe home. God, Sharpe, there's nothing so disgusting as the sight of an old man in love with a woman forty years younger. Sharpe wondered if there was some jealousy in Nairn's words.

'Why would they want to ransom her, sir, if she's their insurance against attack?

'You're not a fool, are you. God knows the answer to that. They have deemed to send us a letter and the letter informs us that we may send the money on a certain date, at a certain time, and so on and so on. I want you to go.’

’Alone?

'You can take one other man, that's all.’