In a rousing follow-up to the critically acclaimed A Close Run Thing , Captain Matthew Hervey makes the hazardous sea voyage to India for what the Duke of Wellington has called “deuced tricky work.” As Wellington’s new aide-de-camp, Matthew’s covert mission will embroil him in the jostling of native potentates and England’s encroaching East India Company — both threatened by lawless bands of horsemen bent on plunder and massacre. When Matthew’s journeying leads him to the small key state of Chintal, he thinks himself close to his objective. But at the rajah’s sumptuous court, he discovers that war in India is waged as often with money and spies as with the clear-cut tactics of the battlefield — with battles won through devious conversations and murderous perfidy. And Matthew, torn between his honor and his destiny, is drawn deeper into the court’s serpentine coils than he ever dreamed.... “When is a military adventure novel every bit as good as a history book, with the added pleasure for the reader of living it vicariously through the eyes, mind, heart and soul of an English cavalry officer in the early 19th century? When it is written by Allan Mallinson.” — The Wall Street Journal “A marvelous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony ... full of surprises and excitement.” — The Times “First-rate historical fiction.” — Booklist “A rousing tale of conspiracy [and] double-crossings ... Hervey is an enduring hero.” — Publishers Weekly Look for Allan Mallinson’s A Close Run Thing Available wherever Bantam Books are sold In a rousing follow-up to the critically acclaimed A Close Run Thing , Captain Matthew Hervey makes the hazardous sea voyage to India for what the Duke of Wellington has called ?deuced tricky work.? As Wellington?s new aide-de-camp, Matthew?s covert mission will embroil him in the jostling of native potentates and England?s encroaching East India Company ? both threatened by lawless bands of horsemen bent on plunder and massacre. When Matthew?s journeying leads him to the small key state of Chintal, he thinks himself close to his objective. But at the rajah?s sumptuous court, he discovers that war in India is waged as often with money and spies as with the clear-cut tactics of the battlefield ? with battles won through devious conversations and murderous perfidy. And Matthew, torn between his honor and his destiny, is drawn deeper into the court?s serpentine coils than he ever dreamed.... In a rousing follow-up to the critically acclaimed A Close Run Thing, Captain Matthew Hervey makes the hazardous sea voyage to India for what the Duke of Wellington has called "deuced tricky work." As Wellington's new aide-de-camp, Matthew's covert mission will embroil him in the jostling of native potentates and England's encroaching East India Company -- both threatened by lawless bands of horsemen bent on plunder and massacre. When Matthew's journeying leads him to the small key state of Chintal, he thinks himself close to his objective. But at the rajah's sumptuous court, he discovers that war in India is waged as often with money and spies as with the clear-cut tactics of the battlefield -- with battles won through devious conversations and murderous perfidy. And Matthew, torn between his honor and his destiny, is drawn deeper into the court's serpentine coils than he ever dreamed.... Allan Mallinson is a serving cavalry officer in the British army and the author of Light Dragoons , a history of British cavalry. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Rome, where he is military attaché. Chapter 1: THE AIDE-DE-CAMP The Embassy of His Britannic Majesty to the Court of the Tuileries Paris, August 13, 1815 Captain Matthew Hervey had put on his best uniform. It was only the second time he had worn it. He was not even sure he should be in levee dress, for his orders to report to the Duke of Wellington’s headquarters had not been concerned with trifles. Yet dress, to a cavalryman in his situation, could hardly be a matter of indifference, and so he had followed the regiment’s maxim that no senior officer could be affronted by seeing an excess of uniform, even if he were bemused by it. The newest captain of the 6th Light Dragoons was therefore waiting in an anteroom, with dress sabertache and Mameluke hanging long from his girdle, and tasseled cocked hat, with its ostrich feathers, under his arm, in some degree of apprehensiveness. He wore no aiglets, however. He had bought two pairs in London on learning that he was to be promoted and appointed to the duke’s staff, but he did not yet presume to wear those coveted insignia of an aide-de-camp. Indeed, his astonishment at his preferment was scarcely less than when first he had comprehended it only two days ago at the Horse Guards. Lying full across the open doorway of the anteroom was a springing spaniel, old and ill-smelling, sound asleep and snoring with perfect regularity and constant pitch. It had not been in the least di