Arthur shrugged.‘In that case, it should be General Harris, the ranking officer at Madras.’

‘Harris?’ Richard frowned for a moment and then nodded to himself. ‘I remember him. Nice fellow, but too quiet and unassuming. Is he up to it?’

‘Assuredly. He’s organised and hard working.You can be sure that Harris will plan the operation thoroughly and see it through. After Clarke, he’s the best choice.’

‘All right then.’ Richard nodded. ‘I’ll consider him. But on one other matter, I have already made a decision.’

‘Oh?’

‘I’m transferring the 33rd Foot from Calcutta to Madras. I want you down there to make sure that the necessary preparations for war are being carried out. And I want you to put into effect those ideas you had for making the field army more self-sufficient. You will, of course, have my full authority to obtain what you need in that regard.’

‘Thank you, Richard.’

‘There’s one other thing. Unofficially, you are my eyes and ears in Madras, until such time as I move my headquarters down there when the war begins. Keep an eye on Lord Clive. I’m not sure that he has grasped the delicacy of the situation. I don’t want him provoking Tipoo or making any deals with him before we’re good and ready. At the same time, he must not be allowed to put the interests of the shareholders of the Company above the safety of the presidency. This war is going to be a costly affair. More than the Madras treasury can afford. But we cannot allow the likes of Josiah Webbe to undermine our military needs on the eve of war. So you will keep me informed of everything that happens in Madras. Use a code. Henry will provide you with a private cipher. Do you understand what’s required of you?’

‘Yes.’ Arthur nodded solemnly. ‘In polite circles it’s called spying.’>

‘Call it what you like, Arthur. I do not have the time to bandy euphemisms about. Our interests in India are facing the gravest threat. I’ll do whatever I must to ensure that we defeat Tipoo.’

Once again, the 33rd Foot took ship and the small flotilla of East Indiamen weighed anchor and slipped down the Hoogley into the Bay of Bengal before coasting south towards Madras. Unlike the placid waters of the Hoogley, the sea off the city of Madras was an unending expanse of surf rolling in from the ocean.There was no harbour, no breakwater, and the only means of landing men and equipment was by the strange local boats that looked more like rafts. Constructed from light timber, they were designed to bob above the waves rather than keep their passengers and cargo dry. It was an unnerving experience for many of the men of Arthur’s regiment, and he himself was filled with nervous excitement as he squatted on the reed-woven bed of the craft hired to take him ashore. The natives paddled furiously through the rolling waves, shouting out instructions to each other in their sing-song tongue as spray drenched those aboard. With expert skill they perfectly timed their approach to the glistening sand of the beach and, with a final flurry of powerful strokes at the paddles, the raft swept forward on the crest of a wave and crashed down on the shore with a jarring thud that knocked Arthur on to his knees. At once the boatmen were over the side and gripping the raft as they waited for the next wave to run it further up the beach, where it grounded solidly and Arthur and the other passengers could clamber ashore, grateful that the experience was over.

Arthur left the rest of his officers to marshal the men as they came ashore and take them to the barracks assigned to them, and made his way directly to the offices of the Governor of Madras at Fort St George. Despite the fact that both Mysore and Madras were supposed to be arming for war he was surprised to note little sign of any military activity in the fort. Most of the barrack blocks were empty and those few soldiers he did encounter were gambling or sleeping in the shade of the narrow thatched verandas that ran round the outside of the barracks.

Lord Clive and General Harris were in conference in the latter’s office when an aide escorted Arthur into their presence. The Governor was wearing a light cotton coat while his senior military officer was stripped to his shirt and breeches. Clive was in his early forties, generously built; perhaps too generously, thought Arthur. His hair was neatly cut and curled and his lips had a slight arrogant lift to them.

‘Who the deuce are you?’

‘Colonel Wellesley, my lord. Of the 33rd Foot. We’ve just arrived from Calcutta.’

‘So I can see.You might have dried yourself before coming in here.’

‘In this heat I’ll soon be dry enough, my lord.’

The comment was meant to be jovial and help lighten the mood, but Clive pursed his lips and tilted his head back as he looked over the new arrival without a trace of self-consciousness. ‘So you’re Mornington’s little brother.’

‘I have that honour.’

‘Yes you do. But while you are here in Madras, there will be no special favour accorded to you because of the family connection.’

‘I would not have it any other way, my lord.’

‘I’m sure.’ Clive smirked momentarily. ‘You say you’ve only just arrived? Then you can’t have heard the news?’

‘What news?’

‘Admiral Nelson has defeated a French fleet in Aboukir Bay. We received the report last night. It seems that only a handful of the enemy ships escaped destruction or capture, for no loss of our own. A striking success.’

‘Some might argue that it would have been more striking still if it had occurred while Bonaparte was en route to Egypt, my lord.’

Lord Clive glared at him. ‘Do you criticise the man’s victory, Colonel?’

‘Not his victory. I just question his timing.’

‘Hmmm.’ Clive frowned for a moment, then blinked as if he had just remembered some prior obligation. ‘Can’t stand here all day sharing the good news.’ He stuck out his hand. ‘I bid you welcome then, Colonel Wellesley. Glad to have with you with us. Another King’s regiment is bound to stiffen the spines of our sepoys.’

‘Yes, my lord. I imagine so.’

‘Fine.Well, I’m sure I’ll see you again soon. Now I have to go. Have a meeting with the finance committee. Until later then.’

Harris’s chair scraped as he stood up and bowed his head as Lord Clive quit his office.The footsteps faded down the corridor outside and Harris gestured to Arthur to take a seat.

‘Don’t worry about Clive. He’s still getting used to his role as Governor. He means well, and he’ll be fine once he stops trying so hard to impress everyone. Meanwhile, I manage to keep both the army and the government of Madras on an even keel.’ General Harris smiled. ‘Don’t worry. I’m not being indiscreet. There’s nothing I’ve said that I haven’t already reported to Mornington.’ He looked at Arthur shrewdly. ‘I imagine that one of your tasks here is to represent the interests of your brother.’

‘He asked me to write to him from time to time, sir.’

‘I’m sure he did. Well now, I imagine you want me to brief you on the latest situation here.’ Harris eased himself back and interlaced his fingers beneath his chin. ‘The truth is that my attempts to prepare our forces for war have been somewhat hampered by Webbe and his companions on the Madras Council. Those forces that I already have at my disposal have been sent forward, close to the border with Mysore, to discourage any attempt by Tipoo to stir up trouble along the frontier. I have other units in training, but the Company is refusing to release weapons and gunpowder from their arsenal until they are guaranteed payment by the War Office in London.’ He caught Arthur’s eye and sighed. ‘I know, it’s farcical. But what can one expect when control of our Indian possessions is divided between the government and a private concern? John Company treats Tipoo as if he was a business rival.’

Arthur laughed. ‘There aren’t many business rivals I know of who throw the competition to their pet tigers to be eaten alive.’