With regard to the Sharpe’s father riddle (and with the traditional deference to the sublime nature of your novels), I have been trying to undertake some relatively unscientific research into the presence of French chevaliers who may have been in London circa 1776? Some names appear like the Chevalier D’anterroches, who was unusual in that he had service in the 62nd Regiment of Foot, and Chevalier d’Eon, a spy who I’ve ruled out as it transpired “he” was a woman. None seem to fit the riddle at the moment so am I barking up the wrong tree or is there some merit in this line of investigation?

Richard Birch