her warmly, his face was lined with apprehension.
Major General William Cadogan was a big, genial man in his early thirties with a reputation as an inveterate gambler. He was also a brilliant cavalry officer and a resourceful Quartermaster General of the Confederate army. But it was his work as head of intelligence that brought him into contact with Daniel Rawson. It fell to Cadogan to collate all the information gathered from prisoners and deserters, or from those who’d been captured by the French then exchanged. He also maintained his own cadre of spies. In this way, he built up a clear picture of the activities of the enemy.
‘By what strange and mysterious witchcraft did you learn all this?’ he asked in wonderment.
‘I happened to be in the right place at the right time, sir.’
‘That’s arrant nonsense, Daniel, so don’t try to fool me. It’s almost as if you rode into the heart of the enemy camp.’
‘I went to an inn nearby,’ explained Daniel, ‘and waited until some of the officers came there for a drinking bout. When I bought Major Crevel some wine, he was kind enough to reward me with details of the French plans.’
‘There’s more to it than that,’ said Cadogan, ‘and I want to hear the full story. No more of your modesty either. You’ve earned the right to boast a little.’
‘I was lucky, sir.’
‘You were both lucky and infernally clever, if I know you.’
Daniel gave him an abbreviated account of events at the inn near Valenciennes and Cadogan was soon laughing heartily. Even the details about the killing of the French officer didn’t stop his guffaws. He loved the notion that a tavern bill had been passed off as a cry for help from a non-existent sister in distress. Cadogan saved his real mirth for the news that Crevel had been stripped of his uniform and left in a ditch. He positively rocked with laughter.
The two men were in Cadogan’s tent, sharing a drink while they talked with easy familiarity. They had much in common. Both had fought in Ireland and taken part in the attacks on Cork and Kinsale under the command of the future Duke of Marlborough. Cadogan had been a cornet in the Enniskillen Dragoons while Daniel had been a humble corporal in a Dutch regiment. Both had shown conspicuous gallantry throughout their careers. When Cadogan married a Dutch heiress, he learnt her native language and was able to converse fluently in it with Daniel. It brought them closer together.
‘It must have been a terrible shock for Major Crevel,’ said Cadogan. ‘To wake up half-naked in a ditch, I mean.’
‘I think our picquets had an even greater shock,’ noted Daniel. ‘They thought they’d captured a French officer and they carried me off as if I was a wondrous prize. Imagine their disappointment when they discovered that I was a captain in a British regiment.’
‘They should have applauded your audacity, Daniel.’
‘They cursed me for not telling them the truth at the start.’
‘Your mission was a success, that’s the main thing.’
‘Yes, I expected to be there for days before I gleaned anything that I could report back to you. It was pure happenstance that information fell into my hands on that first night.’
‘There’s that modesty creeping in again,’ observed Cadogan. ‘Nothing in your life occurs by accident, Daniel. You’re the most deliberate human being I’ve ever met. You went there in search of intelligence and, by Jove, you found it straight away. Your secret was to pick the right man.’
‘It was a case of in vino veritas.’
‘None of us is immune to the seductive power of the grape.’
‘As a wine merchant,’ said Daniel, taking a sip before holding up his glass, ‘I’m inclined to agree.’
Cadogan laughed again. In spite of his weight and girth, he was really in his element when mounted and adored nothing more than leading his cavalry into battle. Daniel had seen and admired his fearlessness in action. But he also admired Cadogan’s ability to carry a whole range of responsibilities so lightly. Here was the man who drew up the order of battle for the Confederate army, taking account of the differing priorities of the various nations and making sure that commanders between whom there was friction were kept well apart. Soldier, diplomat, spymaster, gambler and quartermaster, Cadogan radiated life. Daniel found it a pleasure to be in his company.
‘What you’ve told me accords with my own instincts,’ said Cadogan. ‘I sensed that Burgundy was a complete novice. Why march towards Brussels when he could test our horse near Huy? That’s the direction he should be taking.’
‘It’s exactly what the duc de Vendome suggested,’ said Daniel, ‘but he was overruled. His plan was to lay siege to Huy.’
‘That’s because he’s an experienced soldier. It must be galling for him to have to listen to a posturing ninny like Burgundy. I’ll wager that the pair of them have some rare old arguments.’
‘Vendome is known for his blunt speech.’
Cadogan chuckled. ‘That’s not all he’s known for! If rumours are correct, he has a taste for pretty young officers.’
‘Then Major Crevel is safe from his attentions,’ said Daniel with a grin. ‘Even his own mother would never describe him as pretty. After a night in a ditch, he must have looked a sorry sight.’
The duc de Vendome read the report with gathering fury. When he’d finished, he tossed it on the ground in disgust then rounded on Lieutenant Valeran who was alone with him in the tent.
‘Can this be true?’ he demanded.
‘I fear that it is, Your Grace.’
‘Were there witnesses to this disgrace?’
‘Yes,’ replied Valeran. ‘Major Crevel was hauled out of a ditch by a patrol. At first, they refused to believe he was what he claimed to be. They took him for some kind of madman.’
‘I can well understand that. Send for him, Lieutenant.’
‘I took the liberty of doing so. The major will be here directly.’
‘Crevel may arrive as a major but he certainly won’t leave as one,’ said Vendome, vengefully. ‘I don’t reward incompetence.’ He looked meaningfully at his companion. ‘Those who displease me get short shrift. Only those who impress me can look for promotion.’
‘Thank you, Your Grace,’ said Valeran, obsequiously.
Hearing the sound of footsteps outside, they turned towards the tent flap. A guard entered, ushered Major Crevel in, then withdrew. Vendome glowered at the newcomer. Valeran made as if to leave but the general signalled that he was to remain. Crevel, meanwhile, was standing to attention as he braced himself for the onslaught. Now restored to a uniform, he was uneasy and shamefaced.
‘Major Crevel,’ began Vendome.
‘Yes, Your Grace?’ answered the other.
‘Is it your habit to sleep unclothed in a muddy ditch?’
‘No, no, it’s most uncharacteristic of me but I had no choice. I was set on by three villains. When they’d beaten me black and blue, they stole my uniform and left me unconscious.’
‘I see no bruising on your face.’
‘They punched and kicked my body,’ claimed Crevel, ‘then left me to die of my injuries. As you see,’ he continued, straightening, ‘I returned to duty at the earliest possible opportunity.’
‘Yes,’ said Vendome, ‘but only after the patrol had rescued you. According to the report, you behaved like a raving lunatic.’
‘I deny that, Your Grace. I may have been a little outspoken but I was entitled to be in the circumstances. The truth is that I was still distracted after my beating.’
‘Is that the beating administered by those three rogues?’
‘Yes, it was.’
‘Then where did they suddenly spring from?’
‘They were lying in wait in the privy,’ said Crevel, trying to brazen it out. ‘As I approached, they ambushed me. I had no chance against such odds.’
