[ had no one yet explained the revolution to this man? sharpe is surprised. penitent, even, that he should take such a cheap shot and see it wasted on ignorance. ah, well. it still did as he had intended: it threw the admiral off the scent of his own broiling dissatisfaction with the way army promotion was handled. as dissatisfied as he could get, his code of honour was clear on this matter. he'd made his bed, and now he was to lie in it without complaint. ]

I fight on my own side. [ and on the side of his men. ] I do not see how it always adds up to fighting on the same side as...generals and admirals.