Speaking of which, he shrugged. "Later that boy was killed in Spain. Whether he confessed to the Priest before he died, I've no idea. Precisely because of that, I appreciate your view all the more. If faith exists only to evade responsibility, then one might as well not believe from the start. Someone like you, at least on the battlefield or in politics, will not blame failure on God."
He turned his head toward Napier. "Today I have the pleasure of reminiscing with an old Peninsula comrade, Sir William Napier, and of looking to the future with a young talent like Sir Arthur. Your country has truly gone to some trouble."
Seeing Soult so delighted, Arthur also let out a small breath of relief.
As with Talleyrand, what he had said in front of Soult was not entirely the truth.
