‘What are these events?’
The reproach in her voice was not excessive, but enough nonetheless to check him. ‘You are right, madam. I accept the rank and position readily enough.’
‘Well, let us not dwell too deeply on such matters. What exactly troubles you?’
‘You are aware, I must suppose, that Mr Somervile is come?’
‘Mr Somervile,
Clearly she was not. ‘Why yes, Miss Lucie: he is come with an offer of alliance with Chintal, this very afternoon.’
Emma Lucie rose as if to leave, and then sat down again. ‘I had not thought that—’
‘Forgive me, madam,’ Hervey interrupted, ‘but he comes with intelligence that there are to be further Pindaree forays, and next it is expected they will ravage Chintal.’
She seemed less agitated. ‘I see. And this is what distresses you?’
‘Indirectly, madam. I have been in India these past three months and I am become embroiled with a very minor potentate — albeit most engaging — whose interests are threatened by a man whose assistance I was intent on seeking.’
‘Assistance, Captain Hervey?’
She had seized on it quickly. Had the hesitation in his voice betrayed him? ‘Yes: you will recall that I am to visit his lancers.’
‘Oh,’ she replied, sounding not entirely convinced.
He judged it better to remain silent.
And she said nothing at first. But then she smiled — laughed almost. ‘Captain Hervey, your friend Mr Selden — a most
Hervey frowned. ‘Mr Selden is sick with a fever, madam. I had not thought him capable of receiving anyone.’
‘Indeed — he is not at all well. But he had insisted on being brought to the rajah’s stables, it seems, to examine a new foal. Such a pretty little thing. Yes, he was quite full of classical allusions to your time here.’
He did not see how it could be so.
‘Oh, do not be modest, Captain Hervey: I have heard of your Herculean efforts to divert rivers, to capture boars, and even to confront the Hydra!’
He smiled at the rivers and the boars, but reference to the Hydra escaped him. ‘You confuse me, I believe, madam.’
She frowned. ‘Indeed? I had heard you saved the princess from a most fearsome two-headed serpent deep in the jungle.’
Hervey blushed a deep crimson. How could Selden have known of the encounter? ‘I… that is,’ he stammered; ‘I confess that I ran from it.’
‘
‘Well, Miss Lucie, in truth it was not one snake but two. They were entwined: perhaps that gave the impression of two heads.’
‘Why were they entwined, Captain Hervey?’ she asked, with all apparent innocence.
He blushed deeply again. ‘It was part of their courtship, I understand.’
‘And does such entwining always signal an inclination to mate?’
He felt almost as close to danger as he had been in the forest. What did Selden know, and how? ‘I am not privy to the habits of the hamadryad, madam,’ he replied, with as much an air of unconcern as he could manage.
But she was not inclined to let it pass. ‘Do you know if the hamadryad mates for life?’
‘Miss Lucie, as I said, I know little of the habits of this or, for that matter, any snake.’
She frowned once more. ‘They are not so common in Madras, but I read in my natural history that the female will allow the male to make advances — even to mate with her — and will then kill him with a single bite. Do you know what is the habitual diet of the hamadryad, Captain Hervey?’
He shook his head as she leafed through her book to find the page.
‘There,’ she said, showing him the place. ‘Its scientific name… see?’
‘Oh,’ said Hervey, tumbling to her meaning, ‘Ophiophagus hannah.’
‘Yes, Captain Hervey: Ophiophagus hannah — it eats only other snakes. Indeed, the female will even kill and eat a male with which she has just mated.’
Hervey shivered involuntarily, now convinced her purpose was more allegory than natural history. ‘Perhaps we might change the subject, madam; I cannot even recall how it came about.’
‘I spoke of the labours of Hercules,’ she smiled.
He was partially relieved.
‘It is as well, anyway, that we close that allegory, sir, for Hercules’ eleventh labour would be most perilous.’ She inclined an eyebrow.
Hervey saw it at once. ‘Taking the world on his shoulders, do you mean, madam?’
‘Just so. The rajah seems especially keen that you shoulder his burden, does he not?’ She raised both her eyebrows, and smiled.
Hervey looked at her intently. ‘You do not suggest that the rajah seeks to confine me in some way?’
She raised her eyebrows again, and tilted her head. ‘I have been in India many years—’
‘No!’ he protested. ‘If I am any judge of men at all, the rajah is incapable of such a thing!’
‘I do not know the rajah,’ she replied softly, ‘but I believe any prince in his position would often as not be an unwitting deceiver. He may not have the cares of the world on his shoulders, but those of Chintal are quite enough of a burden for one man, by all accounts.’
Next morning, following a feast and entertainment as impressive for their improvisation as for their sumptuousness (which was nevertheless great), the rajah summoned Hervey once more to his apartments. He was quite alone, although the screens in his chamber might have concealed an entire council of ministers — a possibility Hervey would scarcely have imagined had it not been for Emma Lucie’s caution.
‘Captain Hervey, I have considered most carefully the position. Indeed, so long did I turn these things over in my mind that I saw the day break over Chintalpore. I have resolved to conclude a treaty with the Honourable Company.’
Hervey smiled and nodded appreciatively.
‘I am glad you approve, for I make but one condition.’
Hervey nodded again.
‘It is that you shall command the subsidiary force.’
Hervey’s eyes were wide with disbelief. ‘Sir, that is not possible, I—’
‘Those shall be my terms.’
‘Sir, allow me to explain. I am an officer of the Duke of Wellington’s staff, albeit a junior one. But I have been given quite specific duties here, duties I could not discharge were I to command such a force. The second objection is that I am a King’s officer, not a Company officer. I am not in the least certain that such a command would be lawful.’
‘There is not a third, perhaps greater objection?’ asked the rajah.
Hervey’s brow furrowed. ‘I, I do not think so, sir.’
‘Then you do not feel yourself incapable of such a command? Insufficient for the responsibility of such a force?’
‘Sir, I—’
But the rajah would not let him finish. ‘No, of course you do not think yourself incapable. Captain Hervey, I should think there are few men more capable of exercising command than you.’
He blushed. ‘I am flattered, sir — greatly honoured — but it does not diminish the primary objection.’
‘Then,’ said the rajah, sighing, ‘we shall see what the agent of the Company has to say of the matter.’ And with that he called for hazree. ‘Take breakfast with me first, Captain Hervey.’
Instead, however, Hervey begged leave to speak with the collector at once.
He found him at breakfast in his quarters. It was the first opportunity he had had to speak with him alone,
