"There! What do you think of that, Mr Kydd? You're noticed diplomatically." His genial smile grew wider and he stabbed a finger at Kydd in emphasis. "And I'd wager more went on ashore in that backwoods village than ever found its way into your report, hey-hey?"
"Er, sir, I—"
"Never mind. Whatever it was, you did right. Now, let's talk about what you'll be doing. They've got together two or three frigates—built 'em themselves, damn it—and I've seen the gunboats their Revenue runs. Calls 'em their 'treasury navy.' Now, you'll probably be shipping in one of their frigates—they're fitting out now. Your status will be supernumerary for the voyage—a passenger, any Christian would call it—and you won't be called upon to serve a gun if it comes to fighting."
"Er, who will be their enemy, sir?"
"Well, that's a little difficult to say, but . . ." he tapped his nose ". . . I've been hearing that the French have overstepped their position, making hay with American trade, and they don't like it. In any event, they'll probably tell you about it themselves.
"Now, I know you'll comport yourself as a gentleman should, marks o' respect to all the proper persons, flags and so on. But I think what they're probably after is a correct steer on how things are done in our service. I don't see any reason why you can't tell 'em anything reasonable they want to know. Must be hard to start from nothing," he reflected sombrely. "You go in plain clothes, will be victualled by the, er, United States Navy, and I don't suppose you'll be away from us for long. There's a brig leaving for Philadelphia shortly—it's their capital, where our Mr Liston is expecting you. Good fortune, Lieutenant!"
Kydd took in the sights as the brig rounded Cape May for the long trip up the broad Delaware. This was quite a different land from rugged grey rock-bound Nova Scotia or even pretty, forested Connecticut. Here there was well-settled land on either bank, farming and orchards, settlements and roads. The sails of coastal shipping thronged the river as it narrowed towards the capital. Kydd was impressed. No mean colonial sprawl, Philadelphia was a fine city that stretched for miles along the river, as busy as any he had seen in England.
Kydd followed his baggage ashore and looked to see if someone was there to meet him. A ferry loaded noisily and a market stretched away into the distance, improbably occupying the middle of a wide road.
"Mr Kydd?"
He wheeled round. "Aye?" he said cautiously.
A well-dressed young man inclined his head. "Thornton, secretary of Legation."
"How-"
"Please believe, it's not so hard a task to spy out a sailor, Mr Kydd." He raised a beckoning finger and a coachman came for Kydd's baggage. "So good in you to leave your wooden world at such short notice. His Excellency is returning from Mount Vernon and hopes to make your acquaintance tomorrow. I trust you'll find our accommodation congenial."
With a growing sense of unreality Kydd boarded a high-wheeled carriage and the debonair Thornton pointed out the sights as they made Walnut Street at a fast clip. "Minister Liston keeps unfashionable hours, I fear. Can you find it in you, dear fellow, to appear at nine tomorrow morning? It seems he's anxious to see you."
"Of course."
"Should you like theatre, I have tickets for this evening."
"Thank you," Kydd murmured, his head spinning with the pace of events.
"Mr Liston," Thornton said softly, ushering Kydd into a small drawing room and closing the door noiselessly as he left.
"Ah, Mr Kydd," said Liston, finishing a letter. "Pray be seated, I won't be long."
While Liston sanded and sealed the missive, Kydd had the feeling that he was under discreet observation.
"Very well. To business. You will be aware by now that this country has seen fit to begin the creation of a navy, arising from the grievous nature of the depredations of the French on their trade. For details of that you will no doubt have your professional sources." He paused significantly. "There are many elements of delicacy in this situation, and in a way I would wish that you were of a more elevated, senior character, but in this I am constrained by their very firm petition for your own good self to undertake this service. Therefore I will be plain. The United States has done us the signal honour of embarking on a characterisation of their navy that is in the greatest measure our own. This is gratifying to us, of course, as it presupposes an alignment of purpose consequent upon a convergence of practices. This, naturally, has put the French out of countenance, for the Americans have turned their back on their traditional ally in this."
Liston paused, considering Kydd. "And in this, as in all things, you will consult your honour as to how on foreign soil you will best conduct yourself in furtherance of your country's interests."
Something in the smooth flow of words alerted Kydd and he listened warily. "I will, sir, be assured."
"Then if this is your prime motivation I can rely on your loyalty to the Crown?"
"Sir."
"Then let me lay out the issues before you. You are in a unique position to allay the fears of your government on certain matters concerning the effectiveness of this armament . . ."
"Sir!" Kydd said tightly. "You're askin' me to spy on th' Americans?" The warmth of a flush spread, but he did not care. Spies and betrayal, this was not how he saw his duty.
Liston's face tightened. "Have a care, Lieutenant! Recollect you hold the commission of King George. And in it you have sworn certain loyalties that cannot so easily be cast aside. What I am asking is no more than any officer of honour is bound to do when on foreign territory, whether on parole or any other basis— simply to keep his eyes open." The crack of aristocratic authority in his voice remained as he went on, "And if I might remark it, you appear surprisingly deficient thereby in your understanding of the bounds of gentlemanly conduct."
Kydd stiffened, then dropped his eyes.
Liston's tone softened: "We're not asking you to report back on the number of ships and guns and so forth, if that is your scruple. It is something of far more significance. I desire that you will return to me with an opinion as to whether you believe the United States is determined in this matter, has resolved to establish an armed force of credibility, or is merely embarked on a ploy to deter the French." He fixed his gaze on Kydd. "And if you conceive that they are in earnest, your professional opinion as to their effectiveness at sea. In short, whether they can fight— should the world take notice."
Kydd returned the gaze steadily. "I will do that, sir." It was not an act of spying: it was an opinion.
Liston relaxed a little. "Then as we seem to have come to an understanding, would you care to join me for coffee? The American bean is generally accounted superior, and we have the remainder of this hour before your hosts make their appearance."
Twenty minutes later there was a firm knock on the door. Thornton appeared, with an indistinct figure behind him. "Sir, a gentleman for Mr Kydd." It was Gindler.
Outside they shook hands gleefully. "Well, this must be the strangest coincidence of the age," laughed Gindler, but his knowing look gave the game away.
"So, what has the American Navy in store for poor Lieutenant Kydd?"
"Ah, the United States Navy is what we call it—you English will have reason to remember the Continental Navy of the revolution; this is now the Federal Navy but some take exception to the term."
"Noted."
"And you are now talking to L'tenant Gindler, third of the United States Frigate Constellation, Captain Truxtun, now fitting out in Baltimore." He smiled wickedly. "And I am talking to the mysterious supernumerary on our first voyage . . ."