He could anticipate no trouble until they neared the sea; it was only with their entry into tidal waters that they would be in any danger. He knew how the French coast swarmed with garrisons and customs officersas a lieutenant under Pellew he had once landed a spy in the salt marshes of Bourgneufand it would be under their noses that they would have to steal a fishing boat and make their way to sea. Thanks to the Continental system, and the fear of English descents, and precautions against espionage, tidal waters would be watched closely indeed. But he felt he could only trust to fortuneit was hard to make plans against contingencies which might take any shape whatever, and besides, those dangers were weeks away, and Hornblowers newly contented mind was actually too lazy to devote much thought to them. And as he grew fonder of Marie, too, it grew harder to make plans which would take him away from her. His attachment for her was growing even as strong as that.
It was left to the Count to make the most helpful suggestion of all.
If you would permit me, he said, one evening, I would like to tell you of an idea I have for simplifying your passage through Nantes.
It would give me pleasure to hear it, sir, said Hornblowerthe Counts long-winded politeness was infectious.
Please do not think, said the Count, that I wish to interfere in any way in the plans you are making, but it occurred to me that your stay on the coast might be made safer if you assumed the role of a high official of the customs service.
I think it would, sir, said Hornblower, patiently, but I do not understand how I could do it.
You would have to announce yourself, if necessary, as a Dutchman, said the Count. Now that Holland is annexed to France and King Louis Bonaparte has fled, it is to be presumed that his employes will join the Imperial service. I think it is extremely likely that, say, a colonel of Dutch douaniers should visit Nantes to learn how to perform his dutiesespecially as it was over the enforcement of customs regulations that Bonaparte and his brother fell out. Your very excellent French would be just what might be expected of a Dutch customs officer, even thoughplease pardon my franknessyou do not speak quite like a native Frenchman.
Butbut stammered Hornblower; it really seemed to him that the Counts customary good sense had deserted him it would be difficult, sir
Difficult? smiled the Count. It might be dangerous, but, if you will forgive my contradicting you so directly, it would hardly be difficult. In your English democracy you perhaps have had no opportunity of seeing how much weight an assured manner and a uniform
carry with them in a country like this, which has already made the easy descent from an autocracy to a bureaucracy. A colonel of douaniers on the coast can go anywhere, command anything. He never has to account for himselfhis uniform does that for him.
But I have no uniform, sir, said Hornblower, and before the words were out of his mouth he guessed what the Count was going to say.
We have half a dozen needlewomen in the house, smiled the Count, from Marie here to little Christine the cooks daughter. It would be odd if between them they could not make uniforms for you and your assistants. I might add that Mr. Bushs wound, which we all so much deplore, will be an actual advantage if you adopt the scheme. It is exactly consonant with Bonapartes methods to provide for an officer wounded in his service by giving him a position in the customs. Mr. Bushs presence with you would add a touch ofshall we say realism?to the effect produced by your appearance.
The Count gave a little bow to Bush, in apology for thus alluding to Bushs crippled condition, and Bush returned it awkwardly from his chair in bland ignorance of at least two thirds of what had been said.
The value of the suggestion was obvious to Hornblower at once, and for days afterwards the women in the house were at work cutting and stitching and fitting, until the evening came when the three of them paraded before the Count in their neat coats of blue piped with white and red, and their rakish képis it was the making of these which had taxed Maries ingenuity most, for the képi was still at that time an unusual headdress in the French government services. On Hornblowers collar glittered the eight-pointed stars of colonels rank, and the top of his képi bore the gold-lace rosette; as the three of them rotated solemnly before the Count the latter nodded approvingly.
Excellent, he said, and then hesitated. There is only one addition which I can think of to add realism. Excuse me a moment.
He went off to his study leaving the others looking at each other, but he was back directly with a little leather case in his hand which he proceeded to open. Resting on the silk was a glittering cross of white enamel, surmounted by a golden crown and with a gold medallion in the centre.
We must pin this on you, he said. No one reaches colonels rank without the Legion of Honour.
Father! said Marieit was rare that she used the familiar mode of address with himthat was Louis-Maries.