At best, he thought, the two men could only hope to escape execution by joining the Tippoo's forces, which would mean that both Sharpe and Lawford would be in enemy uniform when the British assaulted the city. He had always suspected that even with the help of Ravi Shekhar their chances of rescuing McCandless were woefully small, but at the very least he had hoped they might learn McCandless's news and succeed in bringing it out of the city, but now he feared that neither man would even survive. It had seemed a good idea when he had first thought of it, but two days' reflection had diluted that initial hope with a score of reservations. The fact that neither the British nor Indian cavalry patrols had discovered the two men suggested that they might well have reached Seringapa-tam, but the more Baird thought about their mission the less sanguine he was about its successful completion. General David Baird did not feel guilty about Sharpe and Lawford, for they were soldiers and were paid to take risks, but he did feel responsible for them. Thus Sharpe went to meet his new comrades and readied himself to face a new enemy. 'I wouldn't waste your time, Shee, on trifles, but I'm obliged for your help, though.' 'You lost two men this week, Captain, did you not?' 'Thank you, sir.' Sergeant Hakeswill's stiff posture unbent a fraction.īaird smiled at Morris. In Morris's opinion the newly breveted Lieutenant was altogether too easy with the men, but a money draft was a money draft, and Fitzgerald was the monied candidate and so had been given the temporary rank. He would have much preferred Ensign Hicks to have received the temporary promotion, but Hicks did not have the hundred and fifty pounds needed to purchase up from ensign to lieutenant, whereas Fitzgerald did, and if Lawford's reward for carrying the despatches was a promotion to captain then Fitzgerald must replace him. 'Lieutenant Fitzgerald now, sir, by brevet, of course.' Morris managed to sound disapproving. 'Sir!' Morris upset his chair as he stood up, then he plucked his red coat off the floor where it had fallen with the chair. Now come.' He summonedDoctor Venkatesh who retrieved his basket and followed Gudin out of the palace. 'The pay is always in arrears,' Gudin admitted cheerfully, 'but in what army is the pay ever on time? Officially you earn a haideri a day, though you will rarely receive it, but I can promise you other consolations. Do you think it still snows anywhere? My God, but it saps a man, this heat. 'I think I've forgotten what cold weather is like.
'Thank you kindly,' Baird said, then he sat, took off his plumed hat and fanned his face with its brim.
May I?' Baird gestured at Morris's cot, asking permission to use it as a chair. 'Sit you down, man,' Baird said, trying to put the Captain at his ease. 'I'll be all right, love,' she whispered, 'and so will you.' Mary stood on tiptoe and kissed Sharpe's cheek. 'No, sir.' Morris was too nervous to introduce himself properly.
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