From Col. Mustard’s Correspondence File
05: Flyte-in-the-Hole
Col. Edward Mustard
c/o Mrs Midgely’s Lodging House
41 Cockspur Street
London
4th March 1768, Lisbon
Dear Ned
I hope I have your Permission to let it be known amongst the Men that their Colonel was able to slay an escaping Villain outright simply by the application of his Forehead to the Miscreant’s Skull. I am sure it would do their Morale no end of Good – although you should prepare for the Eventuality that you become known as “Hardhead Ned” amongst them.
I know you somewhat regret his subsequent Death but I think you should keep in Mind that the Fellow had discharged his Piece against an Officer of the Law in pursuit of his Duties, was taken by you in Flight across the Rooftops, and that by so struggling against your Custody he was like to pitch you both to your Deaths on Streets of London below. Any Jury would have seen him hanged for the first and your lethality of Force (however unconventionally applied) was proportionate to the Circumstance.
It is fortunate that your Dr White was able to restore the Fellow’s Wits, however briefly, before he died, sufficient for him to put you on the Trail of Breadcrumbs that must surely lead you eventually to this Mr Hunter who has been so assiduously following your Movements. My Money is on his Trail leading back to the Company in some Form or another, whether to some Faction or to its Head Office. It is as well you have have made full Report to the Agents of His Majesty, and now made the favourable acquaintance of the Blind Beak himself – all Money in the Bank, as it were, in Terms of making it difficult to come after you with the Law – but let me warn you once more that the Company’s Arm is long and its Means deceitful. That they are still at the watching Stage is encouraging. Let us hope it goes no further.
That the Trail of your other Watchers led you back to the Mr Sandhurst that Mr Tasker’s Diary mentioned is unsurprising. He is clearly a Man with Fingers in many Pies as the Interest held in him by Sir John attests. It is to be hoped that he is now properly guarded under Lock and Key and held to proper Account for his seditious Plots.
Your Officer Harden is clearly a Man of some Kidney to walk into the middle of a hostile Mob alone but for two Deputies (one Blunt and the other Keen – heh! heh!) to arrest its Leader and bring him forth to Justice. I have some recent Experience of such Actions here in Lisbon, which is beset with poor Wretches still scratching a Living in the Rubble that was once this great City. Sometimes they will coalesce into vengeful Mobs that needs must be quelled by Musket and Carbine. However, I have never had less than several sturdy Companies of Dragoons about me and these poor Brutes are motivated simply by Rage against their Lot, not orchestrated by mind-altering Sorceries.
In Truth I pity them. I docked in Lisbon many years ago, before the great Earthquake of ’55, en route to India. It was a beautiful, prosperous City then. Now, while some of its richer Areas have been rebuilt in modern Splendour, no doubt using the Fruits of Portugal’s overseas Possessions, they are but Islands in a Sea of Ruin haunted by the generality its People who live in miserable, filthy Conditions yet able every Day to compare at first Hand their own Squalor with the Comforts afforded their Betters. It is no Surprise they are restless and resentful – and that their Women Folk prey upon the good Hearts of my Soldiers. I cannot forbid Liaisons altogether but I have had to refuse several Petitions from the Ranks, and two from Officers, to marry local Girls.
With the War over, I see little Purpose in our remaining here, training Troops who may one Day be our Enemies once more, and parading at the Whim of our Ambassador. I pray daily for removal to some other Field of Action with more Glory in it, or if not, at least a more comfortable Billet in our own Isles. However, I am sure you will pass me News of such a Deployment as soon as you have it so I must assume by the absence of Word that there is Nothing in the Offing as yet. God give us another War.
Your Obedient Servant
Nathaniel Pepper Lieut. Col.