His door banged closed. Douglass called through it. "Why don't you ever tell me anything?"
60
His answer came back through his shirt and the door. "What do you mean?"
"You didn't tell me Trumbull and Jackson were going to sail with us!
The door to the hall opened now, and Barney stood there. "He didn't, did he? And hasn't anyone told you not to shout?" He leaned against the door jamb and regarded her.
"Oh," said Douglass. "Yes, they have."
"You know better, then? Aren't you going to ask me to come in?"
"Yes, of course." She smiled enchantingly. "You surprised me. And I do believe you've gained another five pounds."
Barney shut the door and advanced into the room. He took her white hand and raised it to his lips. "Were you going out, Mrs. Harris?"
"My hat?" She remembered her hat. "I was sitting outside, on the little balcony. Why, Captain?"
"Because I don't want to detain you."
"You're not detaining me."
"I didn't come to see you, though, Mrs. Harris. I came to see your brother-in-law," Barney said.
Douglass set her red mouth. "Wretch," she said, and turned away from him. "I hate you, Barney," she said, over her shoulder. She sank down on a chair and carefully arranged her skirts. Joshua opened his door and came into the room.
"Captain Barney called to see you, Joshua," she said, regarding both men as though they were far away.
"So I see," Joshua said. "It would be difficult not to be aware of Captain Barney's presence, sister."
"I was wondering if you two would care for me to leave," Douglass went on.
Barney pretended to ponder this. "I guess not," he said finally.
Douglass swung her slipper.
"We will manage to put up with you," Joshua said. "Please sit down, Barney. The English have no manners." He grinned and sat down whereupon Barney did the same.
"What did you find out, Harris?" he asked Joshua. Joshua grimaced. "The Spanish have ordered the rudders of every American ship in port unhung until the damage to that Spanish vessel Gillon fired on is paid."
"Yes, I knew that," Barney said. "Hill, of the 'Cicero,' had offered
61
me a lieutenant's billet, for the passage home. Now he can't sail." He continued, "I'll come right to the point. Is your offer still open?"
"Yes," said Joshua.
Barney got to his feet and walked over to the doors that opened onto the balcony. Then he swung around. "At the time I refused you rudely. My reasons are now immaterial." His smile flashed out. "But please accept my apologies for my discourtesy."
Joshua jumped to his feet, too. "I was rude, also! I must say it's damned decent of you to say so first. You got ahead of me, Barney."
They were both silent for a minute, while Douglass watched them; standing there, they were almost of the same height and build. She kept very quiet.
Then Joshua said, "I didn't tell you. Since I'm here, and can post my bond, and grease palms, we sail as scheduled. Tomorrow morning. The tide's at seven."
"I'll go aboard tonight," Barney said. "Who's my first officer?"
"Paul. Mr. Paul. I'll go aboard with you, and introduce you." Joshua smiled suddenly. "Jesus, Captain, the men will be—I can't think of the right word. And I'll sail with you, aboard the 'Pomona.' "
Douglass couldn't stand it any longer. "Joshua," she said.
He became aware of her again. "Yes?"
Barney answered her unspoken question. "No ladies, certainly. We'll be carrying twenty guns, and we hope to use them. We shall convoy you; you'll be aboard a safe merchantman."
"I'd like to take you aboard now," Joshua said, forgetting Douglass again. "But I can't. I must go down to the port authorities and arrange everything finally."
"I'll take you," Barney said. "I've a carriage out front. Are you ready?"
Joshua nodded. Barney bowed to Douglass. "Goodbye, Mrs. Harris. Why don't you go out and sit on the balcony?"
"I think I shall, since that was my intention," Douglass said with hauteur.
"I won't be back till suppertime," Joshua said. "Barney, do you want some money?"
Douglass went out on the balcony. She heard Barney say, "I'd like you to have one of your agents pay a debt of mine. Two hundred pounds to Cornelius de Leeuw, 19 Rue Anglais, Brussels. And you might advance me a hundred pounds."
62
The door closed then. The sums Barney spoke of so nonchalantly-made her eyes widen; below her they emerged into the street. Neither of them paid any attention to her; they were talking, as though completely immersed. She looked after the carriage as it went off down the street.
"Damn!" she said, quite inadequately.
Ten minutes passed. She occupied herself in watching the people in the street below, the yelling urchins, the horsemen that clattered past. Then she saw a familiar carriage; surely it was the one that Barney had hired.
She almost rose; then she remembered. She plied her fan, eyes downcast; she threw glances down the street at the oncoming carriage. Then her eyes grew^ big and she put down the fan as she saw the carriage lurch over the curb and come dashing up right under the balcony. Hastily she plied the fan again as Barney stood up in the carriage, right under her, his face almost level with hers.
"Would you like to come for a ride, Mrs. Harris?"
Everyone had stopped and was looking. Douglass said, "Oh, I would, Captain!"
Barney said, "Well, put your little backside on this railing."
Douglass stood up, hesitated a moment, and then sat on the railing. Barney scooped her up. Amid a flurry of skirts and petticoats she was deposited in the seat beside him. Still standing, he reached in his pocket and tossed a handful of coins to the delighted screaming urchins. While they scrambled for the coins, they shouted his name, and the sober Spaniards stared at this display of Yankee insanity.
"La Pescaderia," Barney called to the driver, and sat down beside her.
The coach moved off with the calls of the urchins following it. Douglass was laughing and Barney, with a wide smile, put one arm around her, and captured her hand with his free one. "Hello, sweetheart," he said in her ear. "I like those big hats, but they interfere."
"It's well something does." She remembered the order he had called out. "And what is La Pescaderia?"
"The fishing village. It's quaint. Look, my dear. To larboard. A twelfth century church."
Douglass obediently looked, turning her face to his, and he kissed the tip of her nose. She drew back.
"Barney!"
63
He grinned. "Now look to starboard; you can see over the harbor."
She could. The port of Corunna was closely built on the east side of a peninsula that sloped down into the bay. In the blue water she could see the small islands that dotted the bay and the protecting forts perched on them. The carriage rolled on downward, descending fast. It was an open carriage and along the way people shouted and waved at Barney.
He said, as though to explain, "I sailed from Corunna all last summer and part of the fall."
"I know that," she said. "Last summer—" She had told him before. It seemed such a short time ago. She glanced at his face; last year at this time she had read in the newspapers: "Warning! This is the rebel pirate Barney." She looked at him uncertainly. Then she said, "Barney, I'm afraid I can't give you permission to put your arm around me—in public."
The delivery and the sentence seemed to amuse Barney. "You can't give me permission?"
"No, Captain," said Douglass. Then she smiled sweetly. "But I like you to hold my hand." She looked down at the brown fingers around her white ones and at the heavy carved ring; then her eyes lifted to his face again, a bit of question in them. "If you please."