'Of course the Peer knew about it,' Major-General Nairn was speaking of the duel, 'but between you and me I don't think he was unhappy about it. The Navy's been rather irritating him lately.'
'I expected to be arrested,' Sharpe said.
'If you'd have killed the bugger, you would have been. Even Wellington can't absolutely ignore a deceased Naval Captain, but it was clever of you just to crease the man's bum.' Nairn gave a joyful bark of laughter at the thought of Bampfylde's wound.
'I was trying to kill him,' Sharpe confessed.
'It was much cleverer of you to give him a sore arse. And let me say how very good it is to see you, my dear Sharpe. I trust Jane is well?'
'Indeed, sir.' (p. 31)

'Good man!' Taplow said. 'Proud to know you! Sorry you didn't take...