'Your Riflemen will be the rear-guard.

Captain Brooker raised the pertinent point of what was to be done with the women and children of the prisoners, and while the Captains made their suggestions, Frederickson looked appealingly towards Sharpe. Sharpe smiled and shook his head.

Frederickson misunderstood, or else was too upset to leave matters with Sharpe, for the Rifle Captain stood up and asked Farthingdale's permission to speak.

'Captain?

'Why are we leaving, sir?

'The Rifles are thirsting for glory, Farthingdale sneered, and Sharpe marked the men who smiled, for those were the men who had little taste for this fight. Farthingdale handed his piece of paper to a Fusilier, acting as clerk, who began the laborious task of copying out the orders. 'We are leaving, Captain Frederickson, because we are opposed by overwhelming force in a place where we have no reason to fight. We cannot fight four Battalions of French.

Sharpe ignored the fact that four Battalions of French were not too many for a well-sited defence. He uncurled from the wall. 'In fact, sir, a good many more than four.

All eyes were on Sharpe. Farthingdale looked lost for a second. 'More?

'Within eight miles of us, sir, and probably moving up tonight, there are nearer ten Battalions, maybe more. There's also five or six batteries of artillery, and at least another two hundred cavalry. My own suspicion is that that's a minimum. I'd venture a guess at fifteen Battalions.

The thorns crackled in the fireplace. The Fusilier clerk was staring open-mouthed at Sharpe. Farthingdale frowned. 'May I ask why you chose not to apprise me of this intelligence. Sharpe?’

’I just did, sir.

'And may I ask how you know?’

’My wife saw them, sir.’A woman's report.

'A woman, Sir Augustus, who has spent the last three years fighting the French. That jibe went home, provoking smiles from Frederickson and a handful of other officers.

Sir Augustus snapped at the clerk to keep writing, then snapped at Sharpe. 'I hardly see how it affects these orders, Major. If anything, it would seem to underline the wisdom of them.

'It would be interesting, sir, to know why the French are here in such force. I doubt if it's to destroy a watch tower.

'Interesting, no doubt, but that is not my concern. Are you suggesting we fight them? Sir Augustus let the sarcasm show in his question.

'Well, sir. They've probably got seven or eight thousand infantry, I suspect more. We've got, let me see, just over six hundred which includes our lightly wounded. We've also got Captain Gilliland's men, so I think we can pretty safely hold them off.

More smiles, and Sharpe marked those too, because they were the Captains he could rely on.

Sir Augustus was enjoying himself. 'How, Major?

'In the usual way, sir. Kill the bastards.

'My wife is in the room, Sharpe. You will apologize.

Sharpe bowed to Josefina. 'My apologies, Milady.

Farthingdale hitched the tail of his jacket up to warm himself in front of the fire. He was pleased with himself, having forced Sharpe to apologize, and he was enjoying his display of authority in front of Josefina. His voice was crisp. 'Major Sharpe dreams of miracles, I prefer to put my trust in soldierly common sense. Our plain duty is to live and fight another day. Captain Brooker?

'Sir? Sharpe had Brooker marked as a Farthingdale supporter.

'Detail two reliable Lieutenants to carry this intelligence ahead of us in the morning. See they're well mounted.

'Yes, sir.

Sharpe leaned back against the wall. 'I've already sent the message, sir.

'You take a great deal upon yourself, Major Sharpe. Sir Augustus' voice was rich in contempt. 'Did you think the courtesy of requesting my permission was too cumbersome for your precious time?

'My wife and her men are not subject to your permission, Sir Augustus. Sharpe let his own hostility show, and he saw the fury snap into Farthingdale's eyes. Sharpe kept talking, softening his tone. 'I do need your permission, sir, for one other thing. I would like one observation to be recorded of this meeting.

'Damn your observation!

'Doubtless you will, sir, but nevertheless it is important. Sharpe knew how to bully a bully. He was upright again, taller than anyone else in the room, a subdued anger and violence threatening the meeting. He paused, giving Sir Augustus a chance to order him into silence, and when the order did not come he threw out the lifeline he had thought about so carefully. If Sir Augustus listened, Sir Augustus could hold the pass. 'It's obvious, sir, that the French are interested in far more than the destruction of the watch tower. I suggest, sir, that their force denotes an attempt to enter Portugal, and once they are through this pass then there are a dozen routes they could take. It will take a day for our message to reach Frenada, another day for any troops to be concentrated, and by then their aim might well be accomplished. I do not know what that aim is, sir, but I do know one thing. There is one place where they can be stopped, and this is it. Sharpe's supporters, Gilliland among them, nodded.

Sir Augustus leaned against the ornate stone chimney hood and smoothed a hand over his hair, fiddling with the black bow at the nape of his neck. 'Thank you for the lecture, Major Sharpe. Sir Augustus was feeling more comfortable. The odds described by Sharpe had justified his decision, and he could sense the support of half the officers in the room. 'You wanted that observation recorded. So it shall be, as will mine. This may be the place to stop them, but only with adequate troops. I do not intend to sacrifice a fine Battalion to your ambition in a fruitless attempt to stop an enemy who outnumbers and outguns us. Are you really suggesting we can win?

'No, sir.

'Ah! Sir Augustus feigned surprise.

'I'm suggesting we have to fight.

'Your suggestion is noted, and refused. My decision is made. Tomorrow we leave. That is an order. He looked acidly at Sharpe. 'Do you accept that order, Major?

'Of course, sir, and I apologize for taking up your time. Frederickson looked appalled at Sharpe, Farthingdale looked pleased.

'Thank you, Major. Sir Augustus sighed. 'We were discussing the problem of the women and children. Captain Brooker?

Captain Brooker's contribution was doomed to be unsaid. Sharpe cleared his throat. 'Sir?

'Major Sharpe. Farthingdale was condescending in victory.

'There was one very small matter, sir, which I would be wrong not to bring to your attention.

'I would hate you to be in the wrong, Major. Farthingdale provoked smiles from his men. 'Pray enlighten me.

'It's a story, sir, and please bear with me, but it has some relevance. Sharpe spoke mildly, leaning back on the wall, his right hand across his body to hold the pommel of his sword. 'The odds against us do seem to be overwhelming, sir, extremely so, but I am reminded of a lady I know in Lisbon.

'Really, Sharpe! A lady in Lisbon? You say this has relevance?

'Yes, sir. Sharpe kept his voice humble. He glanced once at Josefina, then back to the slim, elegant man who leaned against the chimney. 'She was called La Lacosta, sir, and she always said the more the merrier.

Frederickson laughed, as did one or two others, and their laughter smothered the gasp from Josefina. Frederickson and the other officers had no idea of whom Sharpe spoke, but Sir Augustus did. He was speechless, shock in his face, and Sharpe bored on. 'Lady Farthingdale will forgive my language, sir, but La Lacosta was a whore. She still is, and her husband, Sir Augustus, is living in Brazil.

'Sharpe!

'You heard me, sir. The more the merrier! Sharpe was standing now, his voice harsh. 'Might I suggest it's time fora meeting of senior officers, sir. Majors and above? To discuss my report that I will have to submit to headquarters?