'I didn't say that, sir: I'm trying to describe to you the terms of the new Treaty. If you wish to reassure yourself about me, you'll find me among the lieutenants in the Navy List you have.'
'Ah, but how do I know you really are Ramage?' Hamilton's thin face now had the cunning look of a horsecoper, and then suddenly he grinned. 'Very well, I believe you. Do you speak French?'
Ramage saw the trap. 'Very little, sir; a few words.'
'When was the Treaty signed?'
'The early part of October, sir.'
'You tore my foretopsail,' Hamilton said solemnly. 'You must go and inspect it. They'll have sent it down by now.'
'But sir -'
'Don't argue. Seeing a torn foretopsail is part of your training.' He called to the sentry to pass the word for the first lieutenant, motioning Ramage to remain where he stood.
When the first lieutenant came into the cabin, Hamilton smiled amiably. 'Ah, Todd, Mr Ramage was expressing interest in our torn foretopsail. Is it sent down yet? Ah, good: please take Mr Ramage to inspect it.'
Ramage followed the obviously bewildered lieutenant out of the cabin and along the maindeck. The lieutenant was perhaps thirty years old, obviously once a burly man but now thin, the skin of his face seeming grey beneath the inevitable tan. He walked slightly bent, as though he had a painful stomach ulcer, and so far had not spoken a word.
As they reached the foremast, where one group of seamen were preparing to send-up a new topsail while others began stretching out the torn one on the deck, ready to repair it, Ramage realized that the lieutenant had not been present during the first conversation with Captain Hamilton.
'What is your name?' Ramage inquired.
'Todd, sir.'
'Ah yes, I remember Captain Hamilton mentioning it. You'll be glad to get to Plymouth, I imagine.'
'Yes, sir,' Todd said tonelessly.
'You know the war is over, I suppose?'
'War? Finished, sir?'
The man looked at him like a starving man promised a meal.
'Yes, it's all finished: the one we've been fighting against the French - and the Spanish and the Dutch!'
'My God! So that was why -' Todd stopped abruptly and looked round, as though frightened someone could overhear.
'Bend down and inspect the tear with me,' Ramage murmured. 'Now listen carefully. You've another two or three days at sea before you reach Plymouth, perhaps more. Ships are coming out of the Chops of the Channel like sheep through a hole in the hedge. Ships of all nations...
'I understand, sir,' Todd murmured.
'You don't,' Ramage said. 'Captain Hamilton won't believe me when I tell him peace has been signed.'
'I do understand, sir,' Todd said quietly. 'I began to suspect peace had been signed because we saw two British merchant vessels sailing alone. The captain would not question them, but that was why you didn't get a broadside. I was certain you were British, so when we had to bear up to avoid hitting you, I pretended to mishear him when he gave the order to fire. I'm still under open arrest. . .'
Ramage bent down and hauled at a piece of canvas, inspecting the heavy cringle, is he mad?'
'Most of the time. Yet he'll go a couple of days with no trouble: laughing and joking, teasing his steward, an Irishman who stutters.'
'Do you think you'll get to Plymouth without attacking another ship?'
'Not much chance,' Todd said gloomily. 'I'll warn the lookouts not to see too much: that might save us. Do you think he believed you about the Treaty?'
'No, but he's watching from the quarterdeck. Come here and inspect this cringle with me. You daren't confine him, eh?'
'Articles of war,' Todd muttered. 'He's not obviously mad - we officers would be brought to trial and on his good days any court would think he was sane.'
'But supposing you sink a French merchant ship on the way home?'
'That'll be too bad, sir,' Todd said, if I confine the captain, they'll charge me under Articles Nineteen, Twenty and Twenty-two and Thirty-five; it'll be mutiny, and the penalty is death. So let him kill a few Frenchmen instead. All I want is to get a berth in another ship.'
Together they hauled a torn section of sail to one side and bent over again, inspecting the tear.
'I'll give you a letter addressed to the Board Secretary describing how he nearly sank my ship, and another letter outlining your dilemma. Listen carefully, because we must rejoin him in a couple of minutes. The second letter will cover you should you have to confine him: I shall say flatly that in my view he was insane when I saw him and that I'm prepared to give evidence in court to that effect. Obviously I can't supersede him because I lack the seniority. But I'll get both letters to you before we part company.'
Todd nodded. 'That should do it, sir. Your name'll carry weight. We've read about you in the Gazette.'
'My officers will give evidence, too, if needed. I'll list them in my letter. And you'll have copies, too: they'll be marked. Don't mix them up.'
'Sit down, sit down,' Hamilton said. 'Can I offer you refreshment? I have a good Madeira - shipped some, when we called in. Damned customs fellows will be after me for duty, but it's worth it. Not many wines travel like a good Madeira.'
Hamilton forgot his offer and Ramage was startled to see that the man, who had changed into another and newer uniform while he and Todd inspected the sail, had his feet encased in carpet slippers. When he saw Ramage looking at them he nodded and tapped the side of his nose with an index finger. 'Gunpowder,' he whispered. 'These slippers don't make it explode if I tread on it. Leather-soled shoes would ignite it - and the whole ship could go up in one dreadful explosion.'
'Indeed?' Ramage said politely. 'I must get myself a similar pair.'
'Yes, do, my dear fellow. I bought these in Calcutta. Anyone'll tell you where to go. 'Captain Hamilton's slippers wallah' - just ask, they all know. Now, tell me what's going on in London.'
Ramage thought of his brief conversation with Todd. At the moment Hamilton was changing quickly from sanity to insanity, but it was almost uncanny how he could say some thing which was quite crazy yet make it sound perfectly normal. The carpet slippers, for instance. There was no reason why a captain on board his own ship should not wear carpet slippers with his best uniform. His explanation would sound quite sane to a landman, and with his perfectly normal behaviour in every other respect, what court martial would believe a witness relating the gunpowder story? Hamilton would only have to mention corns or bunions and the slippers would seem perfectly normal.
'London - I was asking you about London, Ramage.'
'Oh yes, indeed. Very quiet now - everyone that matters has gone off to France and Italy. A third of the peerage, I'm told.'
'Indeed? Still, they haven't been able to visit Paris and Florence for years. The ladies want to see the new fashions, I suppose. Still, what's the news from the Admiralty?'
'Changes, of course. Lord St Vincent is the new First Lord, and there is a new Board.'
'St Vincent? That was Sir John Jervis? What's he doing at the Admiralty? Pitt must be mad!'
'Mr Pitt is no longer the prime minister,' Ramage said patiently. 'Mr Addington has formed the new administration -'
'Addington? I don't believe a word of it!'
Hamilton stood up and jammed his hat on his head. He stared at Ramage and took a deep breath. 'A court martial, Ramage, I shall ask for a.court martial on you as soon as I reach England. Plenty of charges; oh, yes, plenty of charges.'
'Indeed, sir?'
Oh yes. Apart from the 'numskull', there will be - now, let me see. Negligently hazarding a King's ship. That will cover the way you risked the Invincible. The same charge concerning the Calypso. Cowardice, of course -'
'Cowardice?' Ramage exclaimed, hardly believing his ears. 'When?'
'You were waving a white flag - surrendering your command to the enemy, and never a shot fired! Articles Twelve and Thirteen, 'In time of action keeping back', and well, you know the wording well enough.'
'Ah, indeed,' Ramage said, determined to get back to the Calypso before this poor, crazy man did something absurd, like ordering his master-at-arms to arrest him.
'Now, Ramage, let me see your orders.'
'They are sealed orders, sir. I have only general orders to take me south, and then I open sealed orders when south ot ten degrees North.'
'Give them to me: I can open them. All things are open to those with faith.'
'They are locked up on board my ship, sir.'
'Then go and unlock them, my boy,' Hamilton said in a perfectly normal voice. 'I must inspect them. One doesn't know what theymight say.'
He spoke as though the Admiralty's orders might contain obscene phrases that Ramage was too young to read.
Ramage nodded agreeably. 'Yes, indeed sir, who knows. You may remember that when I first came on board I said the war with France was over -'
'Ah yes, so you did,' Hamilton interrupted. 'And if you don't refer to it again, I shan't mention it at your trial. But it is a clear breach of one of the Articles of War, number Three to be exact, 'If any officer shall give, hold or entertain intelligence with an Enemy...''
Ramage would have agreed, in order not to provoke the man further, but the Invincible still had a couple of hundred miles to sail before she reached Spithead, during which time she could meet and sink a dozen French, Dutch or Spanish ships.
'Sir, I have something to say that I insist is heard by your first lieutenant and at least one other officer, either the second lieutenant or your master.'
'My dear Ramage, by all means. Tell the sentry to pass the word for them. Now, may I once again offer you refreshment? As I told you, the Madeira is good, but I have spirits, a poor brandy or some of those Dutch East Indies drinks, all spices and perfume: what shall it be?'
Now Hamilton's voice was that of a good host: a rational man pleased at meeting another of the King's ships after a long period at sea.
Ramage examined the bottles as Hamilton displayed them, playing for time and trying not to refuse anything until the two officers arrived. A knock on the door and a call from the sentry showed both men had been waiting close by.
As soon as they came into the cabin, Hamilton nodded to Todd and introduced the second lieutenant, smiling as though they were all about to sit down to a
