Sharpe's Fortress Part 37

"So why did the clerk fail in his duties?"

"Treachery, sir," Torrance said.

The answer surprised Wellesley, as it was meant to. He tapped his pencil on the table's edge.

"Treachery?" he asked in a low voice.

"It seemed the clerk was in league with a merchant, sir, and had been selling him supplies. And this morning, sir, when he should have been issuing the chitties he was employed on his own business."

"And you were too ill to detect his treachery?"

"Yes, sir," Torrance said almost pleadingly.

"At first, sir, yes, sir."

Wellesley gazed at Torrance for a few silent seconds, and the Captain had the uncomfortable feeling that the blue eyes saw right into his soul.

"So where is this treacherous clerk now, Captain?" Wellesley asked at last.

"We hanged him, sir," Torrance said and Sharpe, who had not heard of Dilip's death, stared at him in astonishment.

The General slapped the table, making Torrance jump in alarm.

"You seem very fond of hanging, Captain Torrance?"

"A necessary remedy for theft, sir, as you have made plain."

"I, sir? I?" The General's voice, when he became angry, did not become louder, but more precise and, therefore, more chilling.

"The general order mandating summary death by hanging for thievery, Captain, applies to men in uniform. King's and Company men only. It does not apply to civilians. Does the dead man have family?"

"No, sir," Torrance said. He did not really know the answer, but decided it was better to say no than to prevaricate.

"If he does, Captain," Wellesley said softly, 'and if they complain, then I shall have no choice but to put you on trial, and depend upon it, sir, that trial will be in the civilian courts."

"I apologize, sir," Torrance said stiffly, 'for my over-zealousness."

The General stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Supplies were missing," he said after a while.

"Yes, sir," Torrance agreed weakly.

"Yet you never reported the thefts?" Wellesley said.

"I did not believe you wished to be troubled by every mishap, sir," Torrance said.

"Mishap!" Wellesley snapped.

"Muskets are stolen, and you call that a mishap? Such mishaps, Captain Torrance, lose wars. In future you will inform my staff when such depredations are made." He stared at

Torrance for a few seconds, then looked at Sharpe.

"Colonel Huddlestone tells me it was you, Sharpe, who discovered the missing supplies?"

"All but the muskets, sir. They're still missing."

"How did you know where to look?"

"Captain Torrance's clerk told me where to buy supplies, sir." Sharpe shrugged.

"I guessed they were the missing items, sir."

Wellesley grunted. Sharpe's answer appeared to confirm Torrance's accusations, and the Captain gave Sharpe a grateful glance. Wellesley saw the glance and rapped the table, demanding Torrance's attention.

"It is a pity, Captain, that we could not have questioned the merchant before you so summarily executed him. May I presume you did interrogate the clerk?"

"My sergeant did, sir, and the wretch confessed to having sold items to Naig." Torrance blushed as he told the lie, but it was so hot in the tent and he was sweating so heavily that the blush went unnoticed.

"Your sergeant?" Wellesley asked.

"You mean your havildar?"

"Sergeant, sir," Torrance said.

"I inherited him from Captain Mackay, sir. Sergeant Hakeswill."

"Hakeswill!" the General said in astonishment.

"What's he still doing here? He should be back with his regiment!"

"He stayed on, sir," Torrance said, 'with two of his men. His other two died, sir, fever. And he had no alternative orders, sir, and he was too useful to let go, sir."

"Useful!" Wellesley said. He had been the commanding officer of the 33rd, Hakeswill's regiment, and he knew the Sergeant well. He shook his head.

"If you find him useful, Torrance, then he can stay till Gawilghur's fallen. But then he returns to his regiment. You'll make sure of that, Campbell?"

"Yes, sir," the aide said.

"But I believe some of the 33rd are on their way here, sir, so the Sergeant can return with them."

"The 33rd coming here?" Wellesley asked in surprise. "I ordered no such thing."

"Just a company, sir," Campbell explained.

"I believe headquarters detailed them to escort a convoy."

"Doubtless we can make use of them," the General said grudgingly.