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"Pick up the money," Barney said.
Joshua frowned.
"I'm not going back to privateering."
Joshua riffled through the clean notes as he prepared to replace them in his wallet. "There is no commission in the Navy for vou," he said idly. "I am one of the members of the Marine Committee."
Barney's face darkened with anger. He half rose in his chair. Then he remembered where he was. He leaned his fists on the table. "Is that blackmail? So you can get your goddamned cargo home?"
Joshua seemed to be counting the money. He looked up lazily. "No."
Barney sank down in his chair, "Suppose you explain, then, Mr. Harris."
"At present there are thirteen ships commissioned in the Navy. By the end of the year there will be nine. There is no room for you, Barney. Give it up."
Barney was silent.
"There is a possibility," Joshua went on, "of your commanding an armed vessel which has just been purchased from me by the state of Pennsylvania, for the express purpose of routing out the so-called refugee boats that harass the Delaware. These are light draught vessels manned by Tories or disaffected Americans that harry unsuspecting merchantmen after dark."
Barney's eyes narrowed. "I?" he asked, "Cruise the Delaware?"
Joshua shrugged his shoulders.
Barney said, "You have made a mess of what should have been a sturdy young Navy. There is no room for John Paul Jones. No room for me. Instead you have Gillon commanding. And Hopkins. The root of a Navy is its nation's shipping. We had it. When the British lost us they lost half their potential seamen. And what have you done with it? No wonder the uniform I wore gained no respect!"
"We have made mistakes and we are aware of them. That does not change the immediate situation, does it? The 'Pomona' is sailing soon. Are you going to command her or not?"
"No," said Barney. "I'm damned if I'll take more money for you."
"If you change your mind, let me know. I might remind you that there isn't much choice." Joshua adjusted his cape and prepared to rise, when there was a sudden diversion at the doors. Two soldiers were standing there, and the lieutenant with them was searching the room. As his glance reached Barney he started toward his table.
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Joshua stood. "I fail to see how even you could get into trouble on a Channel crossing," he remarked. "But if you need money to buy your way out of this, it's ready for you. Goodnight, Captain."
He brushed by the lieutenant, who came to a stop at Barney's table. The lieutenant said, "Captain Barney?"
Barney regarded him gravely. "You are not Colonel Lucas."
"No, sir. I am Lieutenant Knippen. You will accompany me, if you please."
In a leisurely way Barney rose. His waiter came hurrying up with a concerned expression and Barney's cloak. "Goodnight, Capitaine," he whispered.
"Goodnight," Barney said.
The lieutenant followed him out of the room. They went through the big door. There was a soldier on each side of Barney as he crossed the paving to a waiting coach.
Chapter 8
THE COACH RATTLED OVER COBBLESTONES for Fifteen Minutes. Then it came to a sudden stop in front of the biggest, gloomiest stone building that Barney had ever seen.
Sentries flanked the high doors. They swung inward, and a be-whiskered German glowered at both the officer and Barney. The German took the lead, and Barney alone followed him. The lieutenant disappeared down another corridor.
Barney was led up two stairways, through a hall, past half a dozen doors. The German came to a halt in front of one of them and knocked. The door was opened, and Barney stepped inside.
Madame Bachels hurriedly locked the door after him. "Wait here, sir," she whispered. Then she, too, disappeared.
Barney was in a small room furnished with four carved chairs with needlepoint seats. A small Aubusson rug partly covered the polished floor. He had been in rooms like this before. They were anterooms where one waited to seek the favor of a woman who was close to a man in a high place. No doubt her sitting room and boudoir were just past the oak door.
That door opened and Elise Roche came toward him. Her low-cut
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black gown almost completely revealed her bosom. Barney did not stop to question the good fortune which brought him here to her; he took her in his arms.
"Darling," she whispered, after he released her lips. "No."
"No what?" asked Barney, kissing her ear.
"Hold me. But listen. I am to bring you to the Emperor in a few minutes."
He looked down at her face, and she said, "I remember when you whisper to me I could speak French. I speak it now. Listen. The Emperor knows you are here. I am to explain what he cannot say. I tell you more than I should, too, my sweet. Listen."
Barney listened. What she was saying was very important.
"You cannot stay in Brussels. The English have protested vehemently; they want you." She caressed the back of his head. "Sweetheart, we will not give you up to them. And I should not tell you this, but Lucas let slip about Holland. The English will declare war on Holland before the end of the year."
Barney's dark eyes glittered. "Go on, Elise," he said.
"You know that in March Russia announced an armed neutrality pact. Sweden and Denmark will sign it, to resist British aggression on the seas. To please Catherine of Russia and Frederick the Great we must sign, too. But we must also remain the only neutral nation, for the sake of the great trade which will accrue to us then. Therefore we cannot offend Britain too much, and you must go. But for the sake of our good relations with your country, we shall grant you favors. To the English, of course, we shall deny we have given them to you. Officially we know nothing about it, but there is a flying coach waiting to take you to Holland. You will sail for your own country aboard the new ship 'South Carolina.' This much we can do for you, but no more. Now I take you to the Emperor. Let me go, darling."
Barney dropped his arms.
At the door she paused for a moment, studying him. "You know to say nothing?"
He smiled. "I'm familiar with the procedures."
She said, "It is because of this perhaps you want to leave Europe. All this." She flung open the door and as she went down the hall with him, her voice was different. She was saying, politely:
"The Emperor is ill. He will receive you in his chamber."
The room they entered next was dominated by an enormous
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poster bed, and the figure of the grey-haired Joseph, as he was propped on his pillows and blowing his nose. He wore a nightshirt and dressing gown. Elise Roche made a deep curtsy, and Barney bowed. The Emperor put down his handkerchief and motioned them to come closer.
Barney found it hard to believe that Joseph was in but his fortieth year and that it was this man's sister, Marie Antoinette, who had impulsively flung her arms around him and kissed him. The Emperor looked tired, drawn and old. Barney stood by the bed; Elise Roche seated herself in the chair by the bed; Joseph took her hand and measured Barney. Elise had told him a good deal about Barney.
"You were born in New Jersey?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. In a small town on the river called the Mullica, which name will be unfamiliar. But Dr. Franklin has boasted much of the oysters."' Barney smiled.
The Emperor said, "I have met the eminent doctor. At my sister's court. As an American, we are sorry that we cannot extend to you our hospitality at this present time."