Chapter Thirteen Summary

In chapter thirteen, they must stop because La Marquesa is saddlesore. They choose an inn in a small town, though Sharpe would prefer to get deeper into the country. Sharpe boils grease for Helene's wounds, and she lies to Sharpe about why she wrote the letter, claiming she did not know it would cause him trouble. Then Sharpe notices she has fleas so calls for a bath and a piece of soap with which to trap the fleas. La Marquesa does not want the innkeeper to know she has fleas, so she makes Sharpe help her. She teases him, calling herself the Holy Grail of his quest, and gives condolences about his wife. She did not love her husband and likes the idea of being a rich widow. She requests that he take her to Burgos where she can be under...