‘The campaign in ’23 was a pathetic affair, the soldiers did little more than raid the countryside round Calais. Put a few French villages to the fire.’ He chuckled again. ‘Sent the village women running out over the muddy fields screaming, skirts held up round their big French bums.’ Saddler looked up, enjoying my look of distaste.
‘There was this one village, all the people ran like rabbits as we came down the road. We went in to see what we could take from the houses before we burned them. Don’t look like that, master, spoil from stripping the countryside is the only money soldiers make from war. The French will take plenty if they land here. Anyway, there wasn’t much in this dump to take back, just a few pigs and chickens. We were setting the houses afire when this little girl ran out of one, screaming at the top of her voice. About three she was. She’d been left behind. Well, some soldiers get soft-hearted.’ Saddler shrugged. ‘So we took her back to Calais with us. The company cared for her, shared rations with her. She was quite happy, we sewed her a little dress in the company colours, and a little hat with the Cross of St George on.’ Saddler took a drink of beer and sniggered. ‘You should have seen her, toddling about the barracks waving the little wooden sword we’d made for her. Like I said, our mascot.’
Leacon was staring at Saddler, his face bleak. I fought down my disgust at the man. He went on, ‘Her name was Josephine. Jojo we called her. She learned some English from the men. Well, after a while the army was ordered to sail home, tails between our legs again. We were going to leave her behind, find someone in Calais to take her. But William Pile, your Coldiron, he said he’d take Jojo with him. He was thinking of retiring from the army and he would raise her to keep house for him. Maybe other things if she turned out pretty.’ Saddler glanced at us, leering. Tom Llewellyn looked shocked. Leacon stared at Saddler as though he were the devil.
‘Well, William did retire, but not in the usual way. As soon as we got back to England he stole the company’s supply money and disappeared. Took Josephine with him. We were sent to Berwick afterwards and kept on short rations, the officers weren’t going to put their hands in their pockets. Never heard of William again till now. He would have been hanged if he’d been caught.’ Saddler crossed his arms, still smiling. ‘That’s the story. Did Josephine turn out pretty, by the way?’
‘Pretty enough,’ I answered coldly.
Saddler frowned. ‘I remember that three months on short rations on the Scottish border. If you can get William Pile hanged that would be a favour to me.’
Leacon stood up and put on his helmet and gorget. Llewellyn followed. ‘Thank you, Master Saddler,’ Leacon said stiffly. ‘Master Shardlake and I have someone to meet and then I must go back to camp. We are grateful for your help.’
Saddler raised his glass and smiled at me. ‘Goodbye, sir. Remember me to Madame Josephine.’
OUTSIDE the street seemed more crowded and noisy than ever.
‘I’ll walk to the Godshouse with you,’ Leacon said. ‘You may need my authority to get in. I don’t have to go back to camp just yet, I just had to get away from Saddler.’
‘I understand.’
‘What did you make of his story?’
‘It fits with what I know of Coldiron.’ I smiled grimly. ‘I have a hold over him now. I plan to kick him out, but keep Josephine on if she wishes to stay.’
‘How does he treat her?’
‘Badly. But she obeys every word he says. She believes herself his daughter.’
Leacon looked doubtful. ‘Then she may not want to part from him.’
I smiled wryly. ‘A meddler may make a worse muddle, eh?’
‘That he may,’ Barak agreed pointedly. Then he scratched his head fiercely. ‘I think I’ve got lice.’
I shuddered. ‘And I can feel fleas. That tavern must be full of them.’
Leacon smiled. ‘You should get your hair cut, Jack.’
‘Everyone in camp has lice,’ Llewellyn added gloomily. ‘And I’ve lost my comb.’
‘You’re not the only one,’ Leacon said. ‘I wish you men would remember to keep track of your things.’
Barak looked out over the stinking Camber. Beyond, the masts of the ships moored in the Solent were just visible. ‘The foul humours of this place will bring disease before long.’
‘Well,’ Leacon said firmly, ‘here we must stay till the French come.’ He turned to Llewellyn. ‘Would you go back to camp? Tell Sir Franklin I will return soon.’
‘Yes, sir.’
I said to Barak, ‘Go back with him, Jack, take the horses and wait for me in camp. I think it would be best if I spoke with Master West alone.’