“I should not make too sure of that,” Samoval warned him. “And you have overlooked something.”
The major glanced at the Count sharply and without satisfaction. He accounted himself—trained as he had been under the very eye of the great Emperor—of some force in strategy and tactics, a player too well versed in the game to overlook the possible moves of an opponent.
“Ha!” he said, with the ghost of a sneer. “For instance, Monsieur le Comte?”
“The overwhelming force exists,” said Samoval.
“Where is it then? Whence has it been created? If you refer to the united British and Portuguese troops, you will be good enough to bear in mind that they will be retreating before the Prince. They cannot at once be before and behind him.”
The man’s cool assurance and cooler contempt of Samoval’s views stung the Count into some sharpness.
“Are you seeking information, sir, or are you bestowing it?” he inquired.
“Ah! Your pardon, Monsieur le Comte. I inquire of course. I put forward arguments to anticipate conditions that may possibly be erroneous.”
Samoval waived the point. “There is another force besides the British and Portuguese troops that you have left out of your calculations.”
“And that?” The major was still faintly incredulous.