MRS. DALBIAC [to dragoons]
The French are luckier than you are, men. You’ll have a wet advance
across this ford, but they have a dry retreat by the bridge at Alba.
SERGEANT OF PATROL [starting from a doze]
The moustachies a dry retreat? Not they, my dear. A Spanish
garrison is in the castle that commands the bridge at Alba.
MRS. DALBIAC
A peasant told us, if we understood rightly, that he saw the Spanish
withdraw, and the enemy place a garrison there themselves.
[The sergeant hastily calls up two troopers, who mount and ride off
with the intelligence.]
SERGEANT
You’ve done us a good turn, it is true, darlin’. Not that Lord
Wellington will believe it when he gets the news.... Why, if my
eyes don’t deceive me, ma’am, that’s Colonel Dalbiac’s lady!
MRS. DALBIAC
Yes, sergeant. I am over here with him, as you have heard, no doubt,
and lodging in Salamanca. We lost our way, and got caught in the
storm, and want shelter awhile.
SERGEANT
Certainly, ma’am. I’ll give you an escort back as soon as the
division has crossed and the weather clears.
MRS. PRESCOTT [anxiously]
Have you heard, sergeant, if there’s to be a battle to-morrow?
SERGEANT
Yes, ma’am. Everything shows it.
MRS. DAlBIAC [to MRS. PRESCOTT]
Our news would have passed us in. We have wasted six pesetas.
MRS. PRESCOTT [mournfully]
I don’t mind that so much as that I have brought the children from
Ireland. This coming battle frightens me!