Nizams Daughters

‘Ach, Hervey — but its moral effect!’

True, he conceded, its moral effect alone could be overwhelming, even before the weapon was brought to bear. ‘But in a melee, if only one can get in close, the lance is useless against the sabre. The lancer can scarcely parry, or wheel and thrust half so well as a sabreur — or even a resolute infantryman with his bayonet.’

‘Ja, perhaps so — then he throws his lance down and draws his sword. But first, Hervey, how do you get to close quarters with a squadron of lancers?!’

‘That, indeed, is the material point,’ replied Hervey smiling.

Bauer joined in his enjoyment of the pun.

Hervey was still intent on serious study, however. ‘What has determined its length? In England there is a regiment of light dragoons presently engaged with a lance some sixteen feet — longer even than a medieval knight’s.’

‘Ten feet, or thereabouts, is a good compromise,’ said Bauer, nodding. ‘It allows the sowar to pick off a crouching man and follow through cleanly, without surrendering any great advantage of reach. If he wants more reach then he must lean from the saddle!’

Hervey saw as much, as lancers galloped this way and that in front of him, effortlessly taking tent pegs further from their line each time.

‘Of one thing I am sure, Captain Bauer: carrying a lance is a most effective aid. At the trot and canter it makes the man greatly more active, obliging him to ride his horse forward into the rein, and promoting a more independent seat. When it is in my power to do so I shall have my own troopers carry a lance at riding school.’

Bauer was delighted: exactly his sentiments when riding master many years before. ‘Hervey, you would make a good German!’ he beamed.

They did not speak for several more minutes, except to remark on one sowar’s skill or another, but then Hervey’s thoughts returned to the question of moral effect. The rajah’s sowars could wield the lance with impressive skill; he fancied there was no sight more able to strike fear into an adversary than a line of their steel points lowered and approaching at a gallop — perhaps the only chance cavalry had of breaking an infantry square without support of artillery. And it was artillery the rajah was in want of. Yet even now as he watched the drill he could not but imagine that, if the infantry maintained their close order in the face of the moral effect, lancers would make no more material impression than would dragoons. The matter turned — as did every battle in the last instance — on how welldrilled was the infantry. ‘Captain Bauer,’ he said in a measuring way, ‘do you not think a front rank of lances, backed by a second of sabres, and perhaps even the third, might have the same moral effect and yet have greater handiness?’

Alter Fritz did not hesitate. ‘Hervey, I give you my opinion, but I am an old quartermaster only. You should have made these enquiries of Captain Steuben. He commanded a squadron against the French, you know.’

They had not spoken of Steuben since the accident. On the subject of cold steel, that German had been as passionate as at other times he had been distant. But now he lay in the palace’s great marble crypt with the other honoured servants of Chintal. ‘It was a swift death, says everyone, for he must have broken his neck at once.’

‘Ja, a howdah is a fair height to fall from.’

‘Captain Bauer, do you know… did anyone see what happened at this time?’

Alter Fritz shook his head. ‘I heard tell only the mahout and two attendants.’

As drill ended, Private Johnson appeared. He had the sort of smile which Hervey knew portended awkward news. ‘That Miss Lucie is ’ere, Captain ’Ervey, sir,’ he announced.

And before Hervey could begin anything by reply, Emma Lucie, beneath a straw hat of huge diameter, came striding towards the edge of the maidan. ‘Good morning, Captain Hervey,’ she said in a matter-of-fact way.

Hervey and Bauer dismounted, the German’s heels clicking together in the prescribed manner, while Hervey took off his shako.

‘I heard that you were… how shall one say? — in trouble?’ she smiled.

Hervey sighed. ‘News travels quickly along the Godavari, it seems, madam.’

Emma Lucie sighed too. ‘News, perhaps, but alas, not the budgerow: progress upstream is very slow.’

Hervey stood before her almost lost for further words. ‘Madam, I am not sure to what news exactly you refer, but I am dismayed to think that any cause of mine should be occasion for your discomfort.’

Bauer gave a discreet cough.

‘Oh, forgive me, sir,’ said Hervey. ‘Miss Lucie, may I present Captain Bauer, quartermaster and acting commanding officer of the Rajah of Chintal’s lancers?’

‘Il me donne du grand plaisir de vous rencontrer, madame,’ replied Bauer, his accent clipped.

‘Captain Bauer: Miss Lucie,’ continued Hervey, in French. ‘Miss Lucie’s brother is in the Company’s service at Madras.’

Emma Lucie made more of a bow than a curtsy. ‘Von welchen Staat des Deutschen Bund kommen Sie, Herr Rittmeister?’

‘Von Wurttemberg, gnadiges Fraulein.’

But, happy though Bauer evidently was with the company of a lady who spoke his language, he had pressing duties to be about, and after a few pleasant exchanges he made his apologies and took his leave.

Hervey handed his reins to Johnson and invited Emma Lucie to walk back with him to the palace.

‘Well,’ she began breezily; ‘it appears the reports of your perilous situation were but exaggeration!’

Hervey smiled. ‘We have had our difficulties, Miss Lucie, but I believe them to be past.’

‘Captain Hervey,’ she smiled, ‘in my experience of this country, as one misfortune abates another follows quickly on its heels.’

‘A most depressing observation, madam.’

She chose not to respond directly. ‘I was in Rajahmundry when I heard, and I thought what Henrietta would do in the circumstances. I had not seen Chintal — the river is very beautiful I heard tell — and had never met the rajah. Mr Somervile always speaks so well of him. And my brother would not too, I think, wish to hear of your lying untended in Chintalpore. So thus I am come.’

Hervey admired her spirit if not her judgement. ‘I hazard a guess, madam, your brother will be greatly more alarmed at learning of your being here!’

‘He will be greatly cheered when he learns of your dash at the mutineers. You recaptured the cantonments single-handed, I learn!’

‘Hardly that, madam!’ he laughed: ‘that is far in excess of the truth. But may I enquire how you have learned of it?’

‘From the rajah — to whom, of course, I first presented myself on arriving here. He is most happy to receive visitors from Madras.’

‘Oh…’ he groaned.

‘Why do you make that noise?’ she asked.

‘Because the rajah’s daughter, the raj kumari, is suspicious that I intend bringing Chintal under the Company’s domination.’

‘And what can I be to such a scheme,’ she smiled, ‘a mere woman?’

‘The raj kumari is a “mere woman”, madam, and I do not underestimate her power and influence!’

‘But it cannot be supposed that I — travelling by budgerow up the Godavari with two servants — am in some way party to intrigue?’

‘Miss Lucie,’ said Hervey resolutely, ‘I warrant there is more intrigue here than in Rome. There isn’t a khitmagar who is not party to it. The sister of an official of the Honourable Company must be immediately suspect.’

‘Ah,’ she replied simply, though without concern.

‘Do not trouble yourself, madam,’ he laughed. ‘I do not believe it will amount to much. I must tell you, however, that I shall in all probability be leaving Chintalpore within the week, and I would advise that you be escorted to Guntoor at that time, if not before.’

In the shade of the palace’s great walls they were now walking more briskly, and as they passed through the gates a thought seemed to occur to her. ‘You have, I suppose, heard of the latest depredations by the Pindarees?’

‘The latest, as I understand, Miss Lucie, are those of which I had intimate acquaintance with Mr Somervile. I