Free Betrayal by Julian Stockwin Page A

I’ve seen. You shall have my order that the mainbrace be spliced this afternoon.’
    ‘Thank you, sir,’ Kydd replied courteously.
    ‘That is, if you’re able to satisfy me in one last particular.’
    ‘Sir?’
    Popham wheeled about and strode purposefully to the spotless after end of the quarterdeck beyond the mizzen-mast. ‘I desire you should make to
Diadem
the following signal.’
    Saxton, the signals master’s mate, hastily took out his notebook.
    ‘“Report the Christian name of the captain of your main-top.”’
    That would be quite impossible to send with the current Admiralty signal book.
    ‘Telegraph,’ muttered Saxton, instantly, to his petty officer, who lost no time in having the telegraph code flag bent on while Saxton composed the signal. It drew an approving nod from the commodore when ‘Christian’ was not found in the book and Saxton muttered, ‘Um, that is, “fore, forward, bows” and then “name” will do’. He rapidly found the numbers.
    The hoist soared up, to be answered with a spelled-out reply from all three masts of
Diadem
. ‘Cholmondeley,’ Saxton reported, wooden-faced.
    ‘Very good,’ Popham said graciously. ‘You may stand down your ship’s company, Captain.’
    When this had been done, Kydd asked politely, ‘And may I offer you refreshments, sir?’
    Once in Kydd’s great cabin, hats and swords were put off and Popham eased himself into one of the armchairs by the stern-lights, stretching luxuriously and loosening his neckcloth. ‘A thoroughly good-spirited ship, Kydd. Count yourself blessed you’re her commander.’
    Tysoe arrived with glasses on a tray. ‘To
L’Aurore
,’ Popham toasted. ‘Long may you reign in her.’
    He put down his glass, adding, ‘As you won’t always serve in such a thoroughbred. Enjoy her while you can, old fellow, for the time will come when you’ll know only the lumbering tedium of a ship-o’-the-line.’
    ‘I will, you may be sure of it,’ Kydd said, with feeling, then realised too late that this must apply to Popham himself at the moment. ‘Which is to say—’
    ‘Of course. And you and she will grow old together on this station.’
    Kydd paused. Popham must be restless if he was bringing this up again. ‘There’s a chance we’ll be superseded and sent home, surely.’
    ‘I rather think not. A pair of old sixty-fours and a couple of frigates is a small enough levy on our fleet – why go to the bother and expense of exchanging ships over such a distance?’
    ‘Perhaps so,’ Kydd said. ‘I suppose we must rest content – it is our purpose and duty, is it not?’
    Unexpectedly, Popham sighed. ‘You’re in the right of it, old fellow. We shouldn’t complain.’ He stared moodily out of the pretty windows at the vast, white-specked ocean expanse. ‘Even when I know for want of communication a priceless opportunity for strategic intervention is slipping by.’
    ‘Sir?’
    ‘Well, in this morning’s mail I received word from my friend Miranda that he is beginning an enterprise of the utmost significance.’ He saw Kydd’s mystification and explained, ‘A gentleman of mixed Spanish ancestry known to me since the year ’ninety-eight. Went to France to learn to be a revolutionary for he ardently desires to rid the Spanish colonies in the south of America of their masters. The French being lukewarm in the matter he then secretly approached the Foreign Office.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘He was disappointed in his hopes and came to see me with his intentions. As a newly elected Member of Parliament I took an interest, his proposal possessing certain compelling advantages to the Crown. His plan was to raise widespread rebellion in South America while the attention of the Spanish and French was on the invasion of Great Britain. The benefits to us I need hardly point out. An immediate cessation of the treasure fleet filling Boney’s coffers would provide an intolerable distraction to Spain, caught between two fires, as will