Now, Mr. Harcourt, he said, pay special attention to what I have to say. The more I know about that cargo the better. But dont go at it like a bull at a gate. Should an opportunity present itself for finding out what it is, you must seize upon it. I cant imagine what that opportunity may be, but opportunities come to those who are ready for them.
Long, long ago, Barbara had said to him that good
fortune is the portion of those who merit it.
I understand, My Lord.
If the slightest hint of this gets outif the Americans or the French get to know what you are doingyou will be sorry you were ever born, Mr. Harcourt.
Yes, My Lord.
Ive no use for a dashing young officer in this connection, Mr. Harcourt. I want someone with ingenuity, someone with cunning. You are sure you understand?
Yes, My Lord.
Hornblower at last took his eyes from Harcourts face. He himself had been a dashing young officer once. Now he had far more sympathy than ever before with the older men who had entrusted him with enterprises. A senior officer had perforce to trust his juniors, while still carrying the ultimate responsibility. If Harcourt should blunder, if he should be guilty of some indiscretion leading to a diplomatic protest, it would certainly be true that he might wish he had never been bornHornblower would see to that. But Hornblower would be wishing he himself had never been born, too. But there was no useful purpose to be served in pointing that out.
That is all, then, Mr. Harcourt.
Aye aye, sir.
Come on, Mr. Gerard. Were late already.
The upholstery of Mr. Sharpes carriage was of green satin, and the carriage was admirably sprung, so that although it lurched and swayed over the uneven street surfaces, it did not jolt or jerk. Yet after five minutes of lurching and swayingthe carriage had been standing for some time in the hot May sunHornblower felt himself turning as green as the upholstery. The Rue Royale, the Place darmes, the Cathedral, received hardly a glance from him. He welcomed the halts despite the fact that each halt meant a formal meeting with strangers, the kind of meeting he disliked most heartily. He stood and gulped in the humid air during the blessed moments between descending from the carriage and entering in under the ornate porticoes that stood to welcome him. It had never occurred to him before that an Admirals full dress uniform might with advantage be made of something thinner than broadcloth, and he had worn his broad red ribbon and his glittering star far too often by now to feel the slightest pleasure in displaying it.
At the Naval Headquarters he drank an excellent Madeira; the General gave him a heavy Marsala; at the Governors mansion he was given a tall drink which had been iced (presumably with ice sent down during the winter from New England and preserved in an icehouse until nearly at midsummer it was more precious than gold) extraordinarily to the point where actual frost was visible on the tumbler. The delicious cold contents of that tumbler disappeared rapidly, and the tumbler was as rapidly refilled. He checked himself abruptly when he found himself talking a little too loudly and dogmatically regarding some point of trivial importance. He was glad to catch Gerards eye and withdraw as gracefully as he could; he was also glad that Gerard seemed perfectly cool and sober and had charge of the cardcase, dropping the necessary number of cards into the silver trays that the coloured butlers held out to receive them. By the time he reached Sharpes house he was glad to see a friendly facefriendly even though it was only that morning that he had first set eyes on it.
It is an hour before the guests are due to arrive, My Lord, said Sharpe. Would Your Lordship care for a short rest?
I would indeed, said Hornblower.
Mr. Sharpes house had a contrivance which merited much attention. It was a douche bathHornblower only knew the French name for it. It was in a corner of the bathroom, floored and walled with the most excellent teak; from the ceiling hung an apparatus of perforated zinc, and from this hung a bronze chain. When Hornblower stood under this apparatus and pulled the chain a deluge of delicious cold water came streaming down on him from some unseen reservoir above. It was as refreshing as ever it had been to stand under the wash-deck pump on the deck of a ship at sea, with the additional advantage of employing fresh waterand in his present condition, after his experiences of the day, it was doubly refreshing. Hornblower stood under the raining water for a long time, reviving with every second. He made a mental note to install a similar contrivance at Smallbridge House if ever he found himself at home again.
A coloured valet in livery stood by with towels to save him from the reheating exertion of drying himself, and while he was being dabbed a knock at the door heralded Gerards entrance.
I sent to the ship for a fresh shirt for you, My Lord, he said.
Gerard was really displaying intelligence; Hornblower put on the fresh shirt with gratitude, but it was with distaste that he tightened his stook