Chapters 18 through 23 Summary

Sharpe estimates the French forces fairly accurately as about 8,000 men and knows his own forces number about 600 combat effectives supported by rocket artillery. Farthingdale appears rather late in the day and at a council of war announces his intention to retreat from Andrados because he is convinced that the French mean no harm and that the best possible course of action is to run away. Further, Farthingdale announces that he has promised the French he will immediately withdraw. Sharpe is stunned by this news and insists on a private conversation with Farthingdale. Privately, Sharpe states that Farthingdale's plan to retreat is madness; Sharpe tells Farthingdale that he knows all about Lady Farthingdale's previous lifestyle, and asks Farthingdale to personally withdraw immediately, leaving Sharpe in command. Farthingdale is irate but after a moment considers and then publicly announces that his minor head...