were to go up in flames. The
Carbonari are much given to an incendiary revenge - I believe it has to do with
their mystic beliefs - and a very little prompting or tangible encouragement of
the more enthusiastic would certainly earn brilliant results. I might almost
promise a blazing success.’
Stephen’s dislike of Colvin increased, but with no
change of tone or expression he went on, ‘In some yards, as I understand it,
the French officers who oversee the construction are strongly Bonapartist, in
others hesitant or downright for the King. Only the first are potentially dangerous,
either as privateers on their own or as renegadoes
with the Barbary pirates, preying on our
trade. Quite apart from any other point of view, a general conflagration would
be wholly against our interests: you are to consider that some vessels may come
over to us voluntarily, joining the King of France; and at this juncture even a
few allied French men-of-war would be of the utmost value here in the Mediterranean. Then again, a wholesale
burning would do away with the possibility of cutting out any nearly completed
or repaired vessels commanded by resolute Bonapartists, and making prizes of
them. It is difficult for a landsman to have any conception of the sailor’s
delight in a prize or of the prodigies of valour and enterprise he will display
to gain it. But as to these differing loyalties, have you any information?’
‘I am very sorry to say I have not. Because of a
gross indiscretion committed by an agent belonging to the other firm just
before I arrived, it was not thought desirable that I should cross to the
Turkish side. On the other hand, we have all the details you could wish about
the geographical and financial position of the yards, and the presents expected
by the beys, pashas and local officials for various accommodations and forms of
blindness.’
The other firm was an intelligence service of
sorts, or rather a collection of services, run by the army; and its agents
often poached on naval preserves, sometimes doing serious damage and always causing a very high
degree of resentment.
‘If you would let me have this information, I
should be very much obliged,’ said Stephen.
‘Of course. You shall have it this
very evening...’ Colvin hesitated and then went on, ‘Though now I come to
reflect, I am by no means sure that I have the papers with me.’ Another pause,
and he said, ‘I dare say you were surprised at finding me here rather than in Malta or Brindisi?’
‘Not at all,’ said Stephen.
‘There was a certain amount of unpleasantness over
that indiscretion I mentioned and I am on my way either to Gibraltar or even
perhaps London to clear it up; and knowing that Commodore Aubrey’s squadron
must touch here I thought I should wait, in order to tell you about the general
aspect of affairs in the Adriatic. Those particulars will of course be at your
disposal as soon as you reach Malta.’
Stephen made the necessary acknowledgements and
they talked for a while about colleagues in Whitehall before he took his leave,
saying that he must rejoin the Commodore without delay - it was death to keep
the Commodore waiting.
‘Well, sir,’ said Jack Aubrey, looking up from his
notes and counting the slips that would enable the officers in charge of the
base to revictual and refit the squadron with all the astonishing variety of
objects it might need, from musket-flints to dead-eyes, hearts and euphroes. ‘I
think that sets us up very handsomely: many, many thanks. And now, sir, if I
may I will beg leave to retire. I have an appointment with my surgeon at the
Crown, and it would never do to vex a man you next meet in the cockpit, with you
flat on your back and he standing over you with a knife. He is not ordinarily
an irascible creature, but I know that today he is with child to call upon your
engineer.’
‘James Wright, that prodigy of learning? I would
give a five-pound note to see them together.’
In fact the sight
Carbonari are much given to an incendiary revenge - I believe it has to do with
their mystic beliefs - and a very little prompting or tangible encouragement of
the more enthusiastic would certainly earn brilliant results. I might almost
promise a blazing success.’
Stephen’s dislike of Colvin increased, but with no
change of tone or expression he went on, ‘In some yards, as I understand it,
the French officers who oversee the construction are strongly Bonapartist, in
others hesitant or downright for the King. Only the first are potentially dangerous,
either as privateers on their own or as renegadoes
with the Barbary pirates, preying on our
trade. Quite apart from any other point of view, a general conflagration would
be wholly against our interests: you are to consider that some vessels may come
over to us voluntarily, joining the King of France; and at this juncture even a
few allied French men-of-war would be of the utmost value here in the Mediterranean. Then again, a wholesale
burning would do away with the possibility of cutting out any nearly completed
or repaired vessels commanded by resolute Bonapartists, and making prizes of
them. It is difficult for a landsman to have any conception of the sailor’s
delight in a prize or of the prodigies of valour and enterprise he will display
to gain it. But as to these differing loyalties, have you any information?’
‘I am very sorry to say I have not. Because of a
gross indiscretion committed by an agent belonging to the other firm just
before I arrived, it was not thought desirable that I should cross to the
Turkish side. On the other hand, we have all the details you could wish about
the geographical and financial position of the yards, and the presents expected
by the beys, pashas and local officials for various accommodations and forms of
blindness.’
The other firm was an intelligence service of
sorts, or rather a collection of services, run by the army; and its agents
often poached on naval preserves, sometimes doing serious damage and always causing a very high
degree of resentment.
‘If you would let me have this information, I
should be very much obliged,’ said Stephen.
‘Of course. You shall have it this
very evening...’ Colvin hesitated and then went on, ‘Though now I come to
reflect, I am by no means sure that I have the papers with me.’ Another pause,
and he said, ‘I dare say you were surprised at finding me here rather than in Malta or Brindisi?’
‘Not at all,’ said Stephen.
‘There was a certain amount of unpleasantness over
that indiscretion I mentioned and I am on my way either to Gibraltar or even
perhaps London to clear it up; and knowing that Commodore Aubrey’s squadron
must touch here I thought I should wait, in order to tell you about the general
aspect of affairs in the Adriatic. Those particulars will of course be at your
disposal as soon as you reach Malta.’
Stephen made the necessary acknowledgements and
they talked for a while about colleagues in Whitehall before he took his leave,
saying that he must rejoin the Commodore without delay - it was death to keep
the Commodore waiting.
‘Well, sir,’ said Jack Aubrey, looking up from his
notes and counting the slips that would enable the officers in charge of the
base to revictual and refit the squadron with all the astonishing variety of
objects it might need, from musket-flints to dead-eyes, hearts and euphroes. ‘I
think that sets us up very handsomely: many, many thanks. And now, sir, if I
may I will beg leave to retire. I have an appointment with my surgeon at the
Crown, and it would never do to vex a man you next meet in the cockpit, with you
flat on your back and he standing over you with a knife. He is not ordinarily
an irascible creature, but I know that today he is with child to call upon your
engineer.’
‘James Wright, that prodigy of learning? I would
give a five-pound note to see them together.’
In fact the sight
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