Chapters 12, 13, and 14 Summary

Sharpe and Harper return to London where they hear of a grand gathering scheduled for a few days' time—the Prince Regent will review a grand scale reenactment of the battle of Vitoria, complete with the capture of the French Imperial Eagle. Sharpe then decides once again to approach the Prince Regent and unsuccessfully seeks an audience. He then meets the Honorable William Lawford, apparently by happenstance. Lawford once commanded the South Essex and Sharpe saved his life during events described in a prior novel of the series. Sharpe decides to trust Lawford and over the course of an evening he tells Lawford all he knows about Fenner, Simmerston, and the second battalion. Lawford promises to make discrete inquiry and advises Sharpe to lay low for a few days. After their meeting Lawford immediately goes directly to Fenner and makes...