Chapter 9

           “Nonsense!”saidtheofficialfromtheAdmiralty.

           SirWaltergotupandlefttheroomwhilewelookedblanklyatthetable.Hecamebackintenminuteswithalongface.“IhavespokentoAlloa,”hesaid.“Hadhimoutofbed—verygrumpy.HewentstraighthomeafterMulross’sdinner.”

           “Butit’smadness,”brokeinGeneralWinstanley.“DoyoumeantotellmethatthatmancamehereandsatbesidemeforthebestpartofhalfanhourandthatIdidn’tdetecttheimposture?Alloamustbeoutofhismind.”

           “Don’tyouseetheclevernessofit?”Isaid.“Youweretoointerestedinotherthingstohaveanyeyes.YoutookLordAlloaforgranted.Ifithadbeenanybodyelseyoumighthavelookedmoreclosely,butitwasnaturalforhimtobehere,andthatputyoualltosleep.”

           ThentheFrenchmanspoke,veryslowlyandingoodEnglish.

           “Theyoungmanisright.Hispsychologyisgood.Ourenemieshavenotbeenfoolish!”

           Hebenthiswisebrowsontheassembly.

           “Iwilltellyouatale,”hesaid.“IthappenedmanyyearsagoinSenegal.Iwasquarteredinaremotestation,andtopassthetimeusedtogofishingforbigbarbelintheriver.AlittleArabmareusedtocarrymyluncheonbasket—oneofthesalteddunbreedyougotatTimbuctoointheolddays.Well,onemorningIhadgoodsport,andthemarewasunaccountablyrestless.Icouldhearherwhinnyingandsquealingandstampingherfeet,andIkeptsoothingherwithmyvoicewhilemymindwasintentonfish.