Chapter 1 Summary

With bowels rumbling and heart terror-filled, Harry Flashman knows he is trouble as he bears a message to the commander of the Light Brigade. With war with Russia looming early in 1854, and as a popular hero of past conflicts, "Flashy" knows he cannot avoid service, but pulls strings to join the safe Board of Ordnance. Wife Elspeth is mortified that he is not wearing the proud pink and blue of the 11th Hussars and cannot imagine that its commander, Lord Cardigan, will not take him back. Ordnance proves a boor. One night, Flashy and friend Speed go to a pool hall, where well-dressed, conceited young Cutts, a "regular shark," takes £15 off a poor little "lamb." Obtaining a "shaved" ball, Flashy helps the greenhorn make a public fool of Cutts. Flashy considers taking the boy to a whorehouse, but settles for leaving him for...