16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
time is all-important, with that smooth
coordination of troop-movements, declarations,
and the summoning of a Peruvian
council that will present the Viceroy
with a fait accompli on his return, a
very well established fait accompli, with
all these movements carried out and an
overwhelming force in the citadel; yet
most fortunately General Hurtado has
an unusual sense of the passing hour,
and he is a most capable chief of staff,
the most capable in the Spanish service.
'How I wish I could give you the results
of the full conference or even of the
preliminary meeting, but I am to ride
into the mountains directly, and the
messengers who carry this to the Atlantic
coast will be gone before I can be
back. May I beg you to send the enclosed
half-sheet down to Hampshire?'