Free Hervey 07 - An Act Of Courage by Allan Mallinson Page B

prisoner. He’s in Badajoz.’
    Laming’s aspect changed in an instant. He scowled like an affronted hawk. ‘How? When? What’s to do?’
    ‘Sir, it’s a bit of a long story, but—’
    ‘Sit you down, Corporal,’ said Laming, and warmly, man to man, throwing his cloak roughly over a damask settee and settling in a big armchair. ‘But first, tell me: who else knows this?’
    ‘Well, sir, those at Elvas know, the general – the Portuguese general, I mean. And Dona Delgado and her father; they’re old friends of Major Hervey’s, sir. I went to them straight away.’
    ‘Delgado? Baron Delgado, is he?’
    ‘Sir; you know him, sir?’
    ‘Many years ago.’ Laming began to think he ought to let Wainwright give a chronological account, but he needed to know one thing more. ‘Who has sent you here, from Elvas to Lisbon, I mean?’
    ‘The general, sir. Well, he said as I could go.’
    Laming frowned. ‘Corporal, I know from Major Hervey what sort of a man you are, but—’
    ‘No, sir. I mean that when it started to look like they weren’t going to be able to get Major Hervey out of Badajoz I said that we had to tell somebody in Lisbon – the colonel or somebody. The general didn’t want to because he says that it wouldn’t go well for Major Hervey if it got out.’
    Laming huffed. ‘And no doubt it would go very ill for the general too!’
    ‘No, sir, he’s not like that. He’s offered to exchange with Major Hervey, but the Spaniards won’t have it.’
    ‘I bow to your good opinion, Corporal. So why have you not told the colonel yet? Which colonel, by the way?’
    ‘Colonel Norris, sir. He’s in charge of the mission here, the special mission, I mean, the one from England. There are three other majors too.’
    ‘Then why have you not told him? He is Major Hervey’s commanding officer, is he not? Yours too!’
    ‘Sir. But as I thought of it, coming to Lisbon from Elvas, I don’t think Major Hervey would want it. You see, he and the colonel had their differences about what should be done if troops come from England. The colonel wanted just to go as far as Torres Vedras, sir, but Major Hervey wanted to have men up near the border.’
    Laming raised an eyebrow, and sighed. He had heard it all before: Hervey and his certainty. ‘Major Hervey is ever of the opinion that between himself and the commander-in-chief there is but dead wood!’
    ‘Sir?’
    Laming shook his head. ‘No matter. Are you aware of any good reason for Major Hervey’s contrary opinion to that of a superior officer, Corporal? No – that is unfair. Proceed.’
    ‘Well, sir, as I said, I went to tell Major Hervey’s friends at Belem, the Delgados, and then came here, thinking as I might try to find Major Cope. He’s the Rifles major who gets on with Major Hervey, but he’s not here still, and neither are the others. And I don’t think Colonel Norris is either. So I was just wondering how I could get the message to Mr Forbes, sir. He’s the envoy here, and he seems to take Major Hervey’s side.’
    Laming raised an eyebrow. ‘You are remarkably well informed, Wainwright!’
    Wainwright was not in the slightest abashed. ‘I am Major Hervey’s covering corporal, sir. I couldn’t do my job right if I didn’t know. That’s what Major Hervey says, sir. He tells me everything. At least, everything he can, sir.’
    ‘Admirable,’ said Laming, sounding not altogether convinced. ‘Well, I think we may have resolved your difficulty in bringing the matter before the envoy, since that is very plainly what I myself am able to do. But there is now a British general here, and we must inform him.’
    Wainwright looked uneasy. ‘Would that be wise, sir?’
    Laming’s head rocked back. ‘You are very sure of yourself, Corporal!’
    Wainwright said nothing.
    ‘But then, as I recall, you did aim a pistol at one of your own officers in Rangoon.’
    ‘Sir, that was because he would have sawn off Major Hervey’s arm if I hadn’t.