There were about a dozen people standing around the table, arranged, he thought, so that without wasting time he could distinguish those who counted from those who did not.
The man he guessed to be James Raymond stepped forward and said quickly, 'I am Raymond, Captain. Welcome. We had expected you earlier perhaps.' He spoke very abruptly. Afraid of wasting time? Unsure of himself? It was hard to tell.
He was in his early thirties, well dressed, and had features which could pass as handsome but for his petulant frown.
He said, 'And this is Don Luis Puigserver, His Most Catholic Majesty's personal emissary.'
Puigserver was a sturdy man, with biscuit-coloured features and a pair of black eyebrows which dominated the rest of his face. He had hard eyes, but there was charm, too, as he stepped forward and took Bolitho's hand.
'A pleasure, Capstan. You have a fine ship.' He gestured to a tall figure by the window. 'Capstan Alfonso Triarte of the Nervion had much praise for the way she behaved.'
Bolitho looked at the other man. Very senior. He would be, to command the big frigate in the roads. He returned Bolitho's examination without much show of pleasure. Like two dogs who have fought once too often, perhaps.
He forgot all about Triarte as the emissary said smoothly, 'I will be brief. You will wish to return to your ship, to make last arrangements for sailing to our destination.'
Bolitho watched him curiously. There was something very compelling about the man. His stocky figure, his legs which looked so muscled, despite the fine silk stockings, even the rough handshake could not disguise his confident assurance.
No wonder the Governor had been quick to pass Bolitho on to him. Puigserver obviously commanded respect.
He snapped his spatulate fingers and a nervous aide hurried forward to take Bolitho's hat and sword. Another beckoned to some servants, and in minutes everyone was seated around the altar-like table, a beautifully cut goblet at his elbow.
Only Puigserver remained standing. He watched the servants filling the goblets with sparkling wine, his face completely unruffled. But when Bolitho glanced down he saw one of his feet tapping very insistently on the tiled floor.
He raised his glass. 'Gentlemen. To our friendship.'
They stood up and swallowed the wine. It was excellent, and Bolitho had a mental picture of his own doubts and fumblings in the shop at St. James's Street.
Puigserver continued, 'Little came out of the war but a need to avoid further bloodshed. I will not waste our time by making empty promises which I cannot keep, but I can only hope that we may further our separate causes in peace.'
Bolitho glanced quickly at the others. Raymond leaning back in his chair, trying to appear relaxed, but as taut as a spring. The Spanish captain looking at his wine, eyes distant. Most of the others had the empty expressions of those who pretend to understand when in fact they do not. It seemed likely to Bolitho that they only understood one word in ten.
Davy sat stiffly on the opposite side of the table, his clean features glowing with heat, his face set in a mask of formality.
It all boiled down to the three of them. Don Luis Puigserver, Raymond and himself.
The former said, 'Thankfully, Spain has received back Minorca and certain other islands as concessions following the unfortunate war.' His eyes rested on Bolitho very briefly. Dark, almost black. They were like Spanish olives. 'In return, His Most Catholic Majesty has seen fit to bless this new venture between us.' He looked at Raymond. 'Perhaps you would be good enough to expand the details, yes?'
Raymond made to stand up and changed his mind.
'As you will know, Captain Bolitho, the French Admiral Suffren was responsible for many attacks on our ships and possessions in the East Indies and India itself. Holland and Spain'-he hesitated as Ca pitaa Triarte coughed gently-'were France's allies, but they had not the available squadrons and men to protect their possessions in that area. Suffren did it for them. He captured Trincomalee from us and restored it to the Dutch after the war. There were several other instances, but you will know of most of them, Captain. Now, in exchange for certain other considerations which need not concern you, Spain has agreed in principle to hand over to Britain one of her remaining possessions in, er, Borneo.' He eyed Bolitho flatly. 'Which is where you will eventually be going, of course.'
Of course. It sounded so simple. Another two or three thousand miles added to their present voyage. The way Raymond spoke it could have been Plymouth.
Bolitho said quietly, 'I am not certain I understand the purpose of all this.'
Puigserver interjected, 'Of that I am sure, Capitan.' He glanced coldly at Raymond. 'Let us be frank. To avoid further trouble in this uneasy truce, for that is what it is, we must move with caution. The French gained next to nothing in the Indies despite all their efforts, and they are, how you say? Touchy about any swift expansions around their dwindling influence there. Your final destination will be Teluk Pendang. A fine anchorage, a commanding position for any country with the will to expand elsewhere in that area. A bridge to empire, as some Greek once remarked.'
Bolitho nodded. 'I see, Senor.'
He did not, nor had he even heard of the place mentioned.
Raymond said sharply, 'When peace was signed last year, our Government despatched the frigate Fortunate to Madras with the bones of this present agreement in her care. On her way around the Cape of Good Hope she met with two of Suffren's frigates which were returning to France. Naturally enough, they knew nothing of the peace, and Fortunate's captain was given no time to explainthe point. They fought, and Fortunate so battered one of the enemy that she took fire and sank. Unfortunately, she, too, was set ablaze and was lost with most of her company.'
Bolitho could picture the scene. Three ships on an open sea. Countries at peace at last, but their captains eager to fight, as they had been conditioned to do.
'However, one of the French captains, the surviving one, was a veteran called Le Chaumareys. One of France's best.'
Bolitho smiled. 'I have heard of him.'
Raymond seemed flustered. 'Yes. I am sure of it. Well, it is believed in some quarters that France, through Le Chaumareys, now knows about this arrangement we are making with Spain. If that is so, then France will be troubled at the prospect of our gaining another possession, one which she fought for on Spain's behalf.'
Bolitho did understand now. All the veiled remarks at the Admiralty. The secrecy. No wonder. One hint that England was about to push her way further into the East Indies, no matter for what outward. reason, and a war might burst out again like an exploding magazine.
He asked, 'What are we to do?'
Raymond replied, 'You will sail in company with the Nervion.' He swallowed hard. 'She will be the senior ship, and you will act accordingly. Upon arrival at Madras you will embark the new British Governor and convey him, with whatever forces he may have, to his new destination. Teluk Pendang. I will accompany you with despatches for him, and to advise in any way I can.'
Puigserver beamed at them, his black eyebrows arched like great bows. 'And I will be there to ensure that there is no nonsense from our people, eh?'
Raymond added wearily, 'The French have a forty-four-gun frigate in that area, the Argus. It is said that Le Chaumareys is with her. He knows the Sunda Isles and Borneo as well as any European can.'
Bolitho breathed out slowly. It was a good plan as far as it went. A British squadron would invite an open battle sooner or later, but two frigates, one from each nation, would be more than a match for the heavily-armed Argus both verbally and in artillery.
Puigserver walked slowly to the broad window and stared down at the anchored ships.
'A long voyage, gentlemen, but I hope a rewarding one for us all.' He turned towards Bolitho, his square face in shadow. 'Are you ready to sail again?'
'Aye, Senor. My people are preparing to take in more water and fresh fruit, if that is possible.'
'It is being attended to, Capitan.' He showed his teeth. 'I am sorry I cannot entertain you now, but in any case,
