And now this, sir." He unfolded a small sketch map,
bearing the title also in French: Probable position and extent of
the fortifications north of Lisbon.
"The notes at the foot," he added, "are in cipher, and it is the
ordinary cipher employed by the French, which in itself proves how
deeply Samoval was involved. Here is a translation of it." And he
placed before his chief a sheet of paper on which Lord Wellington
read:
"This is based upon my own personal knowledge of the country, odd
scraps of information received from time to time, and my personal
verification of the roads closed to traffic in that region. It is
intended merely as a guide to the actual locale of the
fortifications, an exact plan of which I hope shortly to obtain."
His lordship considered it very attentively, but without betraying
the least discomposure.
"For a man working upon such slight data as he himself confesses,"
was the quiet comment, "he is damnably accurate. It is as well, I
think, that this did not reach Marshal Massena."
"My own assumption is that he put off sending it, intending to
replace it by the actual plan - which he here confesses to the
expectation of obtaining shortly."
"I think he died at the right moment.
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