‘What?’
‘I’ve been put in charge of training.’
‘Come outside.’
They went down the stairs and out into the chill November air. Children too young to work were playing in the mud around the mill. There was a smell of coal smoke from the boilers. ‘That’s better,’ said Hornbeam. ‘Why do you not want to be in charge of training?’
‘Because I’m no longer involved in purchasing.’
‘Oh.’ That was a problem. Both Hornbeam and Riddick had profited from Riddick’s position as chief buyer for the militia. They would lose a lot of money if he was moved from the post. ‘What brought this on?’
‘The duke of York.’
‘What’s he got to do with anything?’
‘He’s in charge of the British army now.’
Hornbeam remembered reading something inThe Times. ‘The French just defeated him in the Netherlands.’
‘Yes, but people say he’s a better manager than fighter. At any rate, Northwood met him in London and is now full of enthusiasm for new ways of doing things: warm coats for all troops, more rifles, less flogging, and – here’s the thing – better purchasing.’
‘And by better, the duke means...’
‘He’s made enquiries and discovered that too many quartermasters buy everything from their friends and family.’
‘Oh, dear.’
‘Northwood said to me: “Of course, I’m sure you don’t favour your family, Riddick, but all the same it looks bad when you buy from your father-in-law.” Sarcastic swine.’
‘And who’s in charge of purchasing now?’
‘Archie Donaldson. He’s been promoted to major.’
‘Do I know him?’
‘He’s Northwood’s right-hand man. Sits in the office with him half the day.’
‘What does he look like?’
‘Young, fresh-faced...’
‘I remember.’
‘He’s a Methodist.’
‘That makes it worse.’ Hornbeam was thoughtful for a minute. Then he said: ‘Walk with me back into town.’
He wrestled with the problem as they went through the new streets of mill hands’ houses and along one side of a cabbage field to the bridge. People were conscripted into the militia, but there remained an element of choice: you could pay someone to take your place. Donaldson had not done so. That meant that he was either too poor to pay a substitute or too high-minded to shirk his patriotic duty. If he was poor, he could be bribed. If he was high-minded, that might not be possible. Although every man had his price – didn’t he?
‘You should congratulate Donaldson,’ Hornbeam said as they walked up the cobbles of Main Street.
Riddick was indignant. ‘Congratulate the wretch?’
‘Yes. Say that you’ve had a good run and it’s time for someone else to take over. Tell him how glad you are that he’s got the job.’
‘But that’s completely untrue.’
‘When has truth ever bothered you?’
