"
"What's that?"
"A passport for Major Vieira of the Portuguese Cacadores. Do you
remember it?"
"Major Vieira!" Sir Terence frowned thoughtfully. Suddenly he
recollected. "But that was countersigned by me at the request of
Count Samoval, who represented himself a personal friend of the
major's."
"So indeed he is. But the major in question was La Fleche
nevertheless."
"And Samoval knew this?"
Sir Terence was incredulous.
Colonel Grant did not immediately answer the question. He preferred
to continue his narrative. "That night I had the false major
arrested very quietly. I have caused him to disappear for the
present. His Lisbon friends believe him to be on his way to
Massena with the information they no doubt supplied him. Massena
awaits his return at Salamanca, and will continue to wait. Thus
when he fails to be seen or heard of there will be a good deal of
mystification on all sides, which is the proper state of mind in
which to place your opponents. Lord Liverpool's figures, let me
add, were not among the interesting notes found upon him - possibly
because at that date they had not yet been obtained."
"And you say that Samoval was aware of the man's real identity?"
insisted Sir Terence, still incredulous.
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