"What have you got?"
"The 4th, the 27th, and the 40th. The 81st remain in Brussels."
"Ah, I know! But the others: are they in good order?"
"Excellent, my lord, and very strong," declared the Major.
"That's all right," said his lordship, "for I shall soon want every man."
"I don't think they will attack today," remarked one of his staff, frowning across the valley.
"Nonsense!" said his lordship, with a snap. "The columns of attack are already forming, and I think I have seen where the weight of the attack will fall. I shall be attacked before an hour. Do you know anything of my position, Smith?"
"Nothing, my lord, beyond what I see - the general line, and the right and left."
"Go back and half Lambert's brigade at the junction of the two great roads from Charleroi and Nivelles. I'll tell you what I want of you fellows."
He rode a little way with Smith, apprising him of his intentions. The Major, who was one of his lordship's promising young favourites, listened, saluted, and rode off at a canter to the rear. He cut across the slope behind Alten's division, leapt a hedge, and came down on to the chaussee almost on top of Colonel Audley, who, having been sent on an errand to Mont St Jean, was riding back to the front.