The Privateer's Revenge

to find it? Should he send for Renzi? Or wait until things became clearer? There was every possibility that Saumarez was even now finding out the truth of the matter and he didn't want to involve his ship or any aboard unless he had to.

It seemed an interminable wait and his mind wandered to concern over Teazer and her condition after her recent voyage. He must have that fore topmast seen to. When it had come down to the deck for exercise the carpenter had shaken his head over a fissure in the timber, and with the worn main tack having been turned end for end already he would need to do battle to win a new outfit for fore and main both. While they were at it, conceivably the chain-pump could—

There was movement and discreet murmuring in the adjoining room, the scraping of chairs, the authoritative voice of Saumarez.

The flag-lieutenant's face appeared. 'Sir, if you'd be so good as to present yourself . . .'

Kydd followed the officer. Around a long table faces turned towards him, Saumarez at the head, Fellowes to his right—and Carthew, others. Kydd was ushered to the opposite end to face his commander-in-chief.

'Gentlemen.' Saumarez seemed to have difficulty bringing out the word, 'gentlemen, I would have you in no way misled as to the nature of this meeting. It is by way of an inquiry only, and has no legal standing. If there is cause enough shown then such proceedings may follow in due course, but for now I wish only to establish the facts at hand.'

He looked gravely down the table. 'Commander Kydd. You should know that an information was passed to me recently that you were abusing your position as captain of one of His Majesty's ships to set up in trading on your own account, to the detriment of the honest merchants of these islands and to the dishonour of the service.'

'Sir, who told you—'

'Mr Kydd! Although this is no court of law you would oblige me by remaining silent until called upon to speak, sir.' There was an edge of steel to his tone that Kydd had never heard before and he fell silent, but it was an outrageous accusation and he would soon set matters right when the time came: with a commander-inchief as morally sensitive as Saumarez, it would be an unforgivable abomination that would require the direst penalty.

'My source was anonymous but brought forward facts that left me no choice other than to take further action. I'm sorry to say that the information was in the event proved correct and a search of your vessel has produced prima facie evidence to support the allegation.'

Faces gazed at Kydd, some with interest, others neutral.

'In view of your meritorious record to date in the service of the King, I am most reluctant to believe that you could be so far in want of conduct as to take advantage of your position. Therefore I wish to establish to my own satisfaction the true situation.'

There was a stirring about the table as papers were laid before him. 'Captain Fellowes,' Saumarez instructed, 'detail for me your recent boarding of HMS Teazer.'

Fellowes inclined his head and made to rise.

'No, no, sir—this is not a formal gathering,' Saumarez said, with a quick glance at Kydd. 'You may speak to me directly.' 'Sir,' he began weightily, reading from notes, 'pursuant to your order of the twenty-fifth, on the sighting of the said vessel and its subsequent mooring I proceeded—'

'In plain English, if you please.'

'Yes, sir. Er, this morning I and a party of men boarded HMS Teazer soon after it anchored in Guernsey Great Road. There I—'

'Did you encounter any resistance—discouragement of your action?'

'Er—no, sir. But when advised of the purpose of my visit, Commander Kydd became heated in his opposition to my action.'

'Quite so,' Saumarez said drily.

'But on showing him my authority for so doing he agreed, but attempted to divert my attention forward, away from his cabin, offering to lay open the hold. However, by virtue of the information supplied, my men proceeded straight to Commander Kydd's private quarters where regrettably his servant offered violence to their entry and was forcibly subdued. The chest was found under his cot, as predicted.'

'Were there any witnesses to the seizure?'

'Petty Officer Crowe, or any of his party present, is prepared to swear as to where it was found.'

'And then?'

'It was hauled, unopened, to the upper deck, at which Commander Kydd became considerably agitated.'

'What did he say?'

'I cannot recall his exact words, sir, for the officer appeared incoherent, eventually claiming that the chest was of a level of secrecy that precluded its public display.'

'And it remained unopened until brought here?'

'All concerned will testify to its integrity, sir.'

Kydd's anger rose at the protracted affair and he made to interject but was stopped by Saumarez. 'Commander, are you perhaps claiming that the chest and its contents are in fact for your own private consumption?'

It was a lifeline—but if Teazer had been spotted near L'Anse Pivette by the informer, or his ship's company testified to his bringing aboard a mysterious chest, he would be seen to have lied and then . . .

'No, sir, I am not,' he said thickly. 'I'm tryin' t' say—'

'Later, sir. I find I must now establish a further point. Commander Carthew, did Teazer arrive at the rendezvous in a timely and proper manner?'