Free His One Woman by Paula Marshall Page A

frontier type, who obviously held all Britishers in contempt, and was a little annoyed to find them let loose on the Hill, said contemptuously, ‘We have as yet no iron-clads in these United States. I consider their possibilities in war to be greatly overrated.’
    After that discussion grew brisk. A little clerk took notes and Jack was at pains to suggest that he was an amateur in such matters compared with Charles. He spoke of his wish to meet John Ericsson, theSwedish designer and ship-builder who lived in New York, and it was evident that many present had heard of him.
    A naval officer, covered in gold braid, came in and joined in the discussion which grew rapidly into an argument. He, too, was contemptuous of Charles’s quiet assertion that iron-clads would alter naval battle tactics. The talk grew so lively that Jack could not help thinking how much Marietta would have enjoyed it. The traditionalist naval officer grew verbally violent in pressing his belief that iron-clads would never be capable of fighting effective battles on the high seas.
    â€˜But it will come,’ said Charles firmly, Jack nodding at his side, ‘and soon. For if war breaks out here I am prepared to wager that iron ships will fight it out, somewhere, somehow.’
    â€˜So you say,’ said the naval officer, tempting Jack to put his oar in to support Charles, but Charles did not need his support: beneath his quiet exterior he was a most determined young man. Hammer and tongs they went at it, and the frock-coated politicians stroked their chins and listened. Charles had the advantage of knowing at first hand what the European navies were doing and Jack listened carefully to him.
    In the middle of all this a tall, dry-looking man came in and took Welles to one side, to speak to him at length. After his departure, Welles returned to the table, put up a hand for silence and said, ‘Our discussion comes apropos, gentlemen. I have further news from Fort Sumter. The would-be rebels expectus to evacuate it—nay, they have demanded that we do so—but we are standing firm. It cannot hold for ever, and if they fire on us, the fort will fall—and the Union with it.’
    The little group fell silent, and for the first time Jack felt the hand of war heavy on them all. Sumter had dominated conversations for days, and it was a matter of agreement that, if it were attacked, war was inevitable.
    Welles turned to Alan, who had been listening to the discussion with great attention.
    â€˜You see our concern plain, suh.’ He had a turn of speech common to many American politicians, orotund and formal. ‘And when you return and report back to your masters, why, you will do so from the horse’s mouth.’
    â€˜Always remembering that my role is an unofficial one,’ said Alan. ‘But I have heard what you have to say and will so note when I reach home.’
    Jack saw Charles give a subtle smile when his brother said this. Shortly afterwards the meeting broke up, but it was agreed that all present would dine at Willard’s that night. Jack knew that Alan would come under fire again, but this did not seem to trouble him.
    Walking down Capitol Hill, Alan suddenly laughed out loud and said to Jack and Charles, ‘Men are the same the world over; never forget that, and you cannot go wrong. Having dealt with Chartists and Rothschilds and now with these horse-tradingYankees, I find the same patterns hold good. They will try to get me to drink heavily tonight in the hope that I might commit myself—and they will try to ply the two of you with drink as well. I shall drink bumper for bumper, smile and smile, and give nothing away until it pays me to—and you must do the same. We shall all have thick heads in the morning.’
    He stopped, and stretched himself, his arms held high, so that passers-by smiled indulgently at the big man. For his part, Jack grew ever more convinced that he shared with Alan