Выбрать главу

"You see, dear Jules, all my efforts to educate you in the ways of the wider world have borne fruit, after all," Choundas agreed, with an evil little laugh. "I truly never expected such an opportunity to fall into my lap, but now that it seems possible… ah! And the last nail in Hugues's coffin will be his apparent failure to apprehend the spies who pass information to the British, because he let himself be distracted by the lure of riches. Or perhaps the suggestion that he deliberately left some untouched, were sufficiently lucrative bribes paid, hmm? Not that he was in British pay, himself, no. That would be reaching too far to be plausible, but… as soon as Desfourneaux gets his hands on Hugues's ledgers, he is doomed, and I will be seen as instrumental to his exposure.

"Whether I become governor or not, or become the senior naval officer in the Caribbean, worthy of admiral's rank at long last, and second-in-command of the island next to the new governor, either way I gain, and advance," Choundas cleverly concluded. "You are sure you would leave my employ, Hainaut, now that my, and your, prospects for gaining riches, power… and with that power, the access to undreamed pleasures, are so close to having? To discover the spies, I will need the assistance of men I trust, experienced with delving into traitors' hearts and minds, experienced with my techniques of… interrogation. Now, could a small, insignificant ship of war, with all the privations of seafaring, be more tempting than that? "

Jules Hainaut let his mouth fall open slightly as he cocked his head to one side in furious contemplation. Choundas knew him down to his boots, knew what motivated him, to what he eventually aspired, no matter how seemingly unattainable for a half-Austrian former farmhand and simple sailor. Tempting as the prospects were, though…

"If you need me so badly you must order it, m'sieur, of course," he temporised, "but… I still desire command of a warship. I am not so improved as you think. I came from before the mast, and the sea is what I know. I do aspire to advancement, but…"

"So be it," Choundas growled, as if disappointed. "This schooner you brought in, Jules, the one you claim would be a suitable replacement… you desire her?"

"I do, m'sieur, more than anything!" Hainaut vowed, though with his fingers crossed for luck, for he'd seen his master raise the hopes of others, only to delight in betraying them a moment later, breaking the spirit and heart of his victims-along with the bones.

"Then she is yours, Jules," Choundas baldly told him, so firmly that Hainaut had no fears it was a cruel ploy. "You will leave with a new commission into her. Your orders will be to arm her with the guns off both prizes, empty them and turn the cargoes over to the Prize Court officials at Basse-Terre, and assemble the crews off both ships into her. I will send what midshipmen, petty officers, and sailors I can spare, though after our most recent disaster, experienced officers I cannot offer."

"I will make do, m'sieur," Hainaut confidently swore.

"Good, for I have quick need of you," Choundas said, businesslike, picking up the folded letter he had toyed with earlier. "I have received a letter from General Hedouville, on Saint Domingue, at last. He intends to throw his support to that pompous Mulatto, General Andre Rigaud, and has urgent need for the munition ships to sail as soon as possible. With La Resolue and Le Gascon away, though, I cannot despatch the arms convoy and hope that it gets through. I can not entrust their safety to even the worthiest of our privateers as an escort, either. As soon as you are ready for sea in all respects, you must dash back down South and recall Griot and MacPherson from raiding the Americans. We must do all this before the British can act."

"I will do so, m'sieur!" Hainaut vowed with mounting joy.

"The vile 'Bloodies' sent an agent to Saint Domingue, to try to bribe L'Ouverture and Riguad," Choundas sneered, "a total ass. It was quite droll, was it not, Etienne?"

"Oh? Indeed, m'sieur," clerk de Gougne chirped back, jerked to wakefulness at the mention of his name. He had been nodding off, now that it seemed his bitterest abuser had gotten away with a whole skin, and a grand reward… again!

"That salopard Twigg does not direct every insidious scheme the British work against us, Jules," Choundas snickered. "Even he is compartmented to deal specifically with me, while others woo the ignorant noirs. Their latest agent was so clumsily disguised he might as well have gone ashore with a regimental band! He even hired a boat to take him to Ile de la Gonave, then Jacmel, that had been at Kingston to spy for us, if you can believe it… the silly shit!"

"No! He didn't!" Hainaut hooted with open glee. "What an ass!"

"Americans, from Okracoke Island, on the Outer Banks near Cape Hatteras," Choundas cackled. "Long a pirates' and buccaneers' haven, where they make their prime living salvaging the many shipwrecks that come onshore. Perhaps luring some when times are lean. Who can say? A most practical and realistic lot, with a distinct English accent. They told this idiot that Okracoke was a smallish cay off the Abacos, in the Bahamas, and the ignorant fumier bought it! Naturally, they betrayed him for extra money, as soon as they put into both ports, being rewarded by L'Ouverture, then Rigaud, then by Hedouville!"

Choundas had to pause to let his harsh laughter subside.

"Before they left Jacmel, an aide to General Hedouville handed them his letter… this letter, and brought it and that twit straight to Antigua at the same time, then hared off here to Guadeloupe on the very next tide!" Choundas all but tittered, wiping his good eye with a handkerchief. "And he never knew a thing about it! They even taught him sea-chanties, and to dance a horn-pipe in his sailor's costume!

"Mon Dieu, what a hopeless…" Hainaut wheezed, himself. "Well, I will get a few hours' sleep, then get back to Mohican as quickly as I can, to ready her…"

"No real rush, Hainaut," Choundas countered, so easily turning grim and business-like after savouring his little coup. "Your orders will take time to write, extra crew to assemble… The British agent promised much more than he can possibly deliver at short notice. It will be weeks before his blandishments are assembled and loaded, while ours just wait for the arrival of our ships to escort them. A midnight repast, a good night's sleep, face-down if you must, and a hearty breakfast before you depart will be allowed."

"Very good, m'sieur," Hainaut gratefully agreed.

"Time enough for me to discover the spy network, so this time I do not tip my hand, or the day or hour of departure to Lewrie and his spy-master," Choundas mused, looking rather weary and ill no matter if he should have been chortling over his clever master-stroke. "I have two small, additional things for you to do for me, dear Jules, if you do not mind."

"But of course, m'sieur," Hainaut replied, anxious to seem full of eager cooperation, now that all his dreams had been launched.

"First of all, uhm…" Choundas grunted, arthritically twisting in his chair, no matter how comfortably padded, and with his eyes carefully averted. "Before the arrival of Hedouville's letter and the news you brought, I was beginning to despair. Oui, even me, Hainaut! Time lingers heavily when plans are set in motion, and one cannot see or know how they progress, n 'est-ce pas? Go to my bed-chamber and… you will understand. A slight, amusing diversion," he said crankily. "She's very young and pretty, so you might even take joy of her, too do you find her pleasing. If not, dispose of her. Discretely."