Spanish. [ he corrects her, though not unkindly. ] Portuguese. The towns are held by the French, but they're inhabited by our allies. And I can assure you the French terrorized these towns first.

[ still: ] But then, so did we. All the same. So those caught red-handed are hanged for it.

[ except in sieges, dammit. where the frustrations of men who had thrown themselves against walls and mines and guns are let loose as a reward for all that sacrifice. a token three or four are hanged.

and for all the conversation is about delicate china, he decides he doesn't need to suggest who the real casualties are. ]