Free Ramage & the Guillotine by Dudley Pope Page A

Boulogne.”
    â€œDon’t forget Dunkirk and Ostend,” murmured one of the Maplin Sands Stalwarts. “Two separate landings, you know, with the Dutch Fleet covering them. Just a token force from Boulogne and Calais to land on Romney Marsh, but the main force from Ostend and Dunkirk to tackle the Essex coast. Shortest route to London, by Jove; even the soldiers admit that.”
    â€œWe won’t go into all that again,” Nelson said impatiently. “Well, gentlemen, that completes our business for today. You’ve heard what the soldiers think; I’ve had the benefit of your views on the suitability—from the French point of view—of the stretches of coast you are patrolling; and we’ve all heard what a newcomer to the Squadron thinks.” As if realizing the ambiguity of the remark he turned to Ramage and added: “Your reasoning is good. I find it most stimulating to hear the views of imaginative and practical young men. It makes sure I don’t overlook anything.”
    â€œNot much chance of that, sir,” Captain Lacey said, his voice betraying both disappointment and irritation. “I don’t think any of us have said anything you haven’t already thought about.”
    Ramage knew that Lacey was not a flatterer; his comment probably expressed a genuine fear that some possibility might still have been overlooked. A moment later the Admiral made the same point. “I don’t want any of you to relax just because I’ve held this discussion. Your views may be modified later as a result of hearing other men’s opinions, and you might develop new ideas. If so, I want to hear them in good time: my flagship is anchored in the Downs, as well you know. Very well, I bid you all good night. Ramage, stay behind: I still have some matters to discuss with you.”
    As soon as the other officers left, the Admiral said briskly: “Tell me how you are going to get to France.”
    â€œI haven’t had time to find a way, sir,” Ramage said apologetically. Then, worried that Lord Nelson might have forgotten that he had arrived in Dover only an hour earlier, he added: “But I’ll be in Boulogne within twenty-four hours.”
    â€œI’m less concerned about how and when you get there than about the arrangements you make for getting information back to me.”
    â€œExactly, sir,” Ramage said quickly. “That was what made me rule out getting on shore from one of our own ships—”
    â€œI can’t see Bonaparte sending out a frigate to fetch you,” Nelson interrupted.
    Ramage managed to choke a laugh: sometimes it was hard to know when his Lordship was serious and when he was teasing. “I had in mind that it’s still easy to buy French lace and brandy on this side of the Channel, sir, providing you know who to ask for it.”
    The Admiral nodded. “I have an idea that more is being smuggled across the Channel now there’s a war than was brought over legitimately in time of peace.”
    â€œForbidden fruit, sir. Our people like brandy and enough Frenchmen still like whisky!”
    â€œI hope you find our smugglers co-operative. They’re a dour crowd, you know.”
    â€œWith Preventive officers in nearly every village and Revenue cutters at sea most of the time, they have to watch their tongues, sir. A bit of idle gossip could mean the noose for them.”
    â€œYou speak with all the feeling of a man who has money invested in the business,” the Admiral said dryly.
    â€œWish I had, sir,” Ramage said with a grin. “Then there’d be no problem about getting to France!”
    Nelson began folding the chart. “You’re quite clear what you are after?”
    â€œAye aye, sir.”
    â€œWell, look’ee here young Ramage, I’m going to tell you more than I originally intended because it’s obvious the French would never dream you’d know this sort