The Scent of Betrayal (16 page)

De Barrameda spun on his heel and headed back up the levee to his own ship’s boat. With elaborate care, James personally assisted de Carondelet into their barge. As they were rowed out to
Bucephalas
he asked about the process that had turned sticky molasses into those dry brown granules. While de Carondelet knew who’d invented it, and what it meant for the trade in terms of transportation and preservation costs, the actual method was a mystery.

‘It is nevertheless, Señor Ludlow, an astounding achievement, which has been attempted by many an inventive planter.’

‘It occurs to me, Barón, that once we have you aboard, there is something we can show you that will astound you even more.’

‘And what would that be, Señor Ludlow?’

‘As you know, we have just come from cruising the Caribbean. My brother said the pickings would be rich but I doubt even he knew how successful he would be. It will be our pleasure to show you the results of that cruise.’

De Carondelet was staring at the open chest with disbelief, his bulbous blue eyes catching the sunlight that streamed through the
rear windows of the main cabin to bounce off the mass of heaped coins that had been emptied out of their pouches. He glanced at Pender, who’d dragged the chest from Harry’s sleeping cabin and undone the padlock. He now stood back, key in hand, trying to look nonchalant, as if the ownership of such a fortune was an everyday occurrence.

‘Where did it come from?’ demanded San Lucar de Barrameda.

Harry copied the words James had said to de Carondelet in the barge, which, with reservations, was nothing but the truth. But regardless of the conviction in his voice, it produced an angry reaction.

‘How can you expect us to accept that!’

‘Sir,’ said Harry coldly. For all his efforts patience wasn’t part of his nature and he’d had enough of de Barrameda. ‘I have allowed you the liberty of abusing my honour once. But if you make a habit of it I will be forced to seek redress.’

‘The
Gauchos
goes missing …’

‘With a cargo of gold ingots,’ said James.

Both Spaniards looked at him, slightly nonplussed.

‘Even a cursory glance will show you that contents of the chest consists of nothing but coins.’

‘No doubt Captain San Lucar de Barrameda thinks we minted them on the way upriver,’ said Harry. ‘That despite the presence of his own troops on board.’

The object of this gibe started guiltily, evidence that his mind was moving that way. It was an absurd idea, since the coins that Harry had tipped out consisted of quite a mixture; eight-real pieces, louis d’or, moidores, guineas, American gold dollars, Swedish, and Danish crowns. In fact, nearly every currency available in the world, hardly surprising since they’d been taken from ships of every nationality. Harry, with deliberate sarcasm, drove the point home.

‘But then, of course, they’d look brand new, which is hardly the case.’

‘Why did you not tell me of this off Fort Balize?’ demanded de Barrameda.

Harry replied sharply. ‘I should think, in the light of subsequent events, the answer to that is obvious. Besides, Captain, it is, rather like the movements of the Spanish navy, actually none of your business.’

James, seeing de Barrameda swell up with indignation, spoke quickly to de Carondelet. ‘You are welcome to search the rest of the ship, Excellency, but I can assure you that apart from a decent sum that we keep for the everyday affairs and personal purchases there is nothing of interest to see.’

‘Which is why we brought you here first,’ added Harry. ‘We are keen to assure you that we have nothing to hide, just as we are determined to depart at the first opportunity. My crew have been away from home for a long time, Barón.’

‘Then it seems strange to me that you came to New Orleans at all,’ said de Carondelet, wistfully.

‘The nature of my obligation to our French passengers left me no option. As we’ve already told you they want to land here and settle in Louisiana, which they perceive as a haven from the recent upheavals both at home and in the Caribbean. It was my intention to advance them sufficient money to aid their settlement.’

That seemed to break his reverie. He responded angrily: ‘I’ve told you. We have quite enough Frenchmen in New Orleans.’ His emotion increased as he spoke. ‘And the last influx, who fled from the Terror in their own country or her colonies, are the worst. A sane man would think they’d learned their lesson. But no. They agitate for a return to French rule.’ De Carondelet’s eyes seemed set to pop out of his head so great was his indignation. ‘French Revolutionary rule!’

‘These men do not come as refugees, Barón. And I can personally vouch for their antipathy to Jacobin ideas.’

‘That may not do, Captain.’

‘Do I have your permission to carry on with the search?’ asked de Barrameda.

‘There seems little point in any further search.’

De Barrameda reacted angrily, his agitation made obvious by the manner in which he addressed his superior. ‘Don Francisco, you gave me your assurance and I insist that you honour it.’

The older man looked at his subordinate for a second before replying. This seemed to take out of him all the anger he’d stoked up. His shoulders slumped, and the air of resignation in a situation where he could easily have slapped San Lucar de Barrameda down was palpable. It was as though all his cares had come together at once to overburden his power of command.

‘Then carry on, Don Felipe. I did promise that you would be free to do so. But I must say I believe these gentlemen. I doubt your search will produce anything of interest, certainly nothing that shocks me as much as this.’

‘Pender,’ said Harry, with a sideways glance at James, ‘please relock it and fetch the smaller chest. The one that contains our petty cash.’

‘Wait,’ said de Carondelet. ‘How much is the contents of this chest worth?’

Harry hesitated, as if trying to convey ignorance, but he knew that wouldn’t wash. It would be obvious to anyone with half a brain that no one could spend time close to this hoard without knowing its value. What worried him most was the knowledge that the sum de Carondelet had lost tallied very closely with the total of the Frenchman’s treasure.

‘No doubt you have a list of the contents?’

Harry nodded, then going to his desk pulled open a drawer and produced the scroll of parchment, prepared by Lampin and him. He handed it to de Carondelet, who’d held out his hand impatiently. The Barón unrolled it and scrutinised it quickly, his lips moving slowly.

‘A pen, Captain Ludlow, if you please.’

Harry pushed the inkstand which stood on his desk towards de Carondelet, then reached into his desk for a piece of paper. The Barón grabbed both and with an occasional glance at the scroll,
began a series of sums. Clearly he had a good head for figures, plus a fair idea of the value of varying currencies, since he was engaged in listing his conclusions to each entry into a separate account in the margins. Once he’d finished he dusted off the sheet, folded it into his coat pocket, and handed the scroll back to the silent Harry. Pender then stepped forward and closed the chest, securing it with a huge padlock.

‘I will not dine with you aboard ship. Captain Ludlow. Instead, you and your brother will dine with me ashore. The hour will be somewhat later than you are accustomed to but that cannot be avoided.’

‘That’s very generous, but—’

‘No buts, Captain. I insist. I will also invite certain members of the
Cabildo
.’ Observing James’s look of incomprehension, de Carondelet explained: ‘It is the body that advises me on policy. As to this chest, I fear I must take that ashore with me now.’

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but de Carondelet gave him no opportunity. ‘Do not preach to me the laws of neutrality, Captain Ludlow, or squeal about your letters of marque. I have the right, as do any of my customs officers, to require any ship berthed in New Orleans to land their entire cargo.’

‘With respect, sir,
Bucephalas
is no merchantman.’

‘That is a point. But it’s not one I wish to consider as relevant. I infringe no law when I do this since you did not inform the port authorities of the nature of your cargo on arrival. In that respect you have failed in your obligations. And I leave you with what you choose to call your petty cash so that you may provision your ship as necessary.’

‘It is also within your rights to declare any goods, so described, as contraband. If you intend to do that, I must warn you that I am not without influence in London. The consequences for both you, the colony, and Spain could be grave.’

They exchanged stares for a moment. But de Carondelet held all the cards and knew it. So did Harry Ludlow. London was four thousand miles away.

‘I take this chest because I am within my rights to do so. And also for safe keeping.’

‘Then will you call off your galleys and the soldiers on that merchantman? In fact, do I have your permission to move my ship to another berth? I dislike being under the guns of that bastion.’

De Carondelet tried to smile, to make it sound like a trifle. But his lips were too tight and his jaws too clenched to bring off the easy manner he was striving for.

‘That, I think, can wait until tomorrow, Captain. Now if you will forgive me, I have instructions to give to my steward. I will expect you and your brother at six o’clock.’

HARRY LAY
in the netting slung in the bows of
Bucephalas
for a long time. Half his mind was concentrated on the reasons why his fears were groundless, but the remainder had him turning his head this way and that, first examining the approaches to the bastion then the looming bulk of the galleys, with their open gunports and crowded decks. Upstream the soldiers who’d lined the side of the merchantman had been stood down. But there were still officers on duty to keep a watch on his ship, ready at a moment’s notice to call their musketeers back into position. Occasionally his eyes would trace the line of the levee, eventually ending up at the downstream bastion, a twin of the high stone structure that stood before him. Pender waited close by, just as still, knowing that his Captain needed time to think. Anyone who got too close, their curiosity having become unbearable, was treated to a glare that sent them scurrying away.

As the light began to fade, the furnace for the gunners’ hot shot started to glow. Soon torches began to appear on the battlements, complemented by lanterns strewn in the rigging of the straddling ships. As an extra precaution San Lucar de Barrameda had run a cable from his stern to that of the merchant ship upstream. It was not strong enough to stop a determined attempt to breach it, but meant that Harry couldn’t try to get away without jerking it and alerting those on duty on the
Navarro
. Finally, assuming that the Spaniard’s precautions were complete, Harry stood up, and balancing on the bowsprit leapt back onto the deck. With a nod to Pender, who followed on his heels, he made for the cabin. As he entered James looked up expectantly.

‘You’ve been a long time about your musings, Harry.’

‘Not dressed, James? We’re supposed to be going to dinner.’

Harry started to remove his shirt. Pender immediately called forward for hot water, then opened the box that contained his shaving kit. Harry made his way into the quarter-gallery followed by his brother.

‘I wasn’t sure that we’d accepted. In fact, I half suspected, seeing you examining the defences, to be sharpening cutlasses by now.’

‘Sorry to disappoint you, brother.’

‘What? No assault on de Carondelet’s vaults?’

‘No!’ Harry snapped, impatiently.

‘You show a rare degree of bad temper, Harry, which is commonly a sign that you are worried.’

‘Do you know me well enough to say that with such assurance?’

James smiled, recalling that as a youngster he’d seen little of elder brother Harry, away at sea and all the more heroic for that to a boy stuck at his school desk. Such separation had saved them from any form of sibling rivalry and allowed them to be friends as adults. They had a natural respect for each other’s privacy, knowing that to both there were areas of their lives that did not invite discussion. But you couldn’t be at sea with anyone for nearly three years without even their most intimate traits becoming obvious.

‘That, brother, is one of the products of being cooped up in a ship with the same people for months on end. You get to know them very well. Sometimes too well.’

‘I don’t much care for the word cooped, James.’

‘I can’t think of another. But I am right. And I would add that in my experience it’s not like you to sit still and let others dictate your actions.’

‘I’m not sure there’s a choice. No more than I am sure that we’re actually in any danger. I have been firmly hoist on my own petard in the matter of our Frenchmen’s treasure, with little notion of what to do about it.’

‘We are, I assume, somewhat badly placed to do anything?’

‘Understatement. We are, proverbially, like rats in a trap.’

‘I take it that I wasn’t mistaken, that you were examining the options.’

‘I was, and as to effecting an escape, death and glory ain’t in it. It would need a shore party to silence the guns on that bastion, and they’d not only have to get ashore but make it to the firing platform without being detected. We couldn’t hang about for survivors, so that is close to being a suicide mission. At the same time, we’re given a miracle and we’ve drifted out of range of the soldiers’ muskets and slipped past the four galleys without sustaining real damage. Having achieved such success there are still their stern chasers, probably loaded and ready to run out. San Lucar de Barrameda will inevitably undertake a pursuit and he has a distinct advantage in confined waters. Finally, there’s the other battery downriver. That has, I suppose a similar complement of forty-two-pounders and the means to heat their shot. Imagine that, James. They, warned and prepared, sending red-hot metal into our timbers, as we float by with little more than the river current to carry us.’

‘So we can do nothing?’

‘Let’s say we appear to do nothing,’ Harry replied with a grin, as Pender pushed past carrying a steaming jug of water. He sat down and his servant began to lather his face.

‘But we are accepting de Carondelet’s invitation. If your peregrinations have taken such a turn has it occurred to you that we might not return?’

Harry tried to respond, but Pender confined him to a nod by jabbing at his opening mouth with the soapy brush, forcing an abrupt closure, accompanied by a calm observation.

‘It seems to me that one glance at a watch would tell a man that’s going to a six o’clock dinner that he’s a mite short on time. Upsetting the host won’t aid matters one little bit.’

Despite the threat of a mouthful of soap, Harry spoke. ‘There you are. Pender thinks we should go.’

‘Why?’

Pender made sure that his Captain got no more opportunity to add his opinion, placing the razor before his eyes and waving it about. ‘It’s a mite dangerous to be conversin’ when you’re being shaved, your honour.’

‘I didn’t ask Harry a question, Pender, I asked you.’

Pender crouched, all his concentration fixed on scraping Harry’s chin. ‘You’ve got to go ’cause no good will be served by not doing so. It’ll only give him the notion that you’re up to something. Let’s face it, your honour, if that there Spaniard wants to come aboard an’ clap us all in irons, there’s nowt we can do about it. An’ if he wants to hang on to the money, then he’ll be seeking an excuse. Then there are them Frogs. I don’t fancy your chances of getting them ashore without butterin’ him up.’ He peered at James’s jaw. ‘Do you want shavin’?’

James rubbed his chin, and lacking Harry’s growth, pronounced himself satisfied.

‘Then I’d recommend a cleaner shirt, your honour,’ said Pender, razor poised to stroke Harry’s other cheek. ‘That one you’re wearing ain’t been improved by the heat of the day.’

James grinned at him before turning away to comply. By the time he returned, in clean linen, Harry was getting dressed. Pender had clearly echoed his Captain’s doubts about the safety of the ship, and he was seeking to reassure him. Listening, he thought he could detect a note in his brother’s voice, a tone of false confidence that made him sound like a man vending shoddy goods.

‘But if he was on the up, he would have let us move our berth,’ Pender protested.

‘Which neatly expresses my own concerns. But I’ve already said they may be groundless. You have to look at the positive aspects as well as the others. He took the chest by invoking a legality.’

‘A narrow one, Harry,’ said James.

‘True. But in order to stay within the bounds of legality he knows he must respect our rights. Even with the information given
to him by San Lucar de Barrameda he made no attempt to take over
Bucephalas
once we’d berthed. I take that to mean that he’s cautious, a very wise policy for a Spanish official in light of past events. How many times in the last fifty years has Albion banged the drum and forced them to back down? De Carondelet knows that they’re weaker now; that faced with a British threat, Spain will have to do the same again, with a heap of ordure waiting to be dropped on the man who caused such a stink. And he couldn’t keep what he’s done a secret, even if he was to throw us all in a dungeon. Being even a fraction in the wrong will be enough to cause an outcry in London.’

‘I have heard many an outcry in London, Harry, and let me tell you they don’t amount to much after a day or two.’

‘There will be a lot of people at home, especially greedy naval officers, who’ll maintain that since the Dons are no longer our allies we should go the whole hog and make them our enemies, whether they infringe on our prerogatives or not. Taking over a British letter of marque without just cause, even stealing what appears to be our profits, would give them ample ammunition.’

‘They hate us, Harry. We’ve seen enough of naval officers to know that.’

‘We’re like Jenkins’s ear, we’ll do as an excuse to start a war. De Carondelet won’t want an incident to fan such sentiments. And he’d have more than London to worry about if things flared up. Can you imagine what the French would do if they thought we might try to take Louisiana? Or the Americans, for that matter. Danger would threaten from all over the place. I doubt he has sufficient troops. He’s only got a few galleys, which would be too flimsy for a real battle, and you saw the state of the defences at the delta. All that combines to make New Orleans vulnerable.’

‘So, on balance, we have little to fear?’

‘Ask me after dinner, brother.’

‘And the Frenchmen’s money?’

‘The same.’

‘How very enigmatic, Harry.’

‘It has to be. All I know is this: Pender is right. If we fail to
show up, or make any difficulties, he’ll draw unwelcome conclusions, perhaps even become as bellicose as he was on first acquaintance. San Lucar de Barrameda doesn’t have a monopoly on pride. Denting de Carondelet’s cannot be to our advantage. Our first priority is to try and retrieve that chest. Then we must gain some freedom of action.’

‘And our passengers?’

‘Provided we get their money back, all will be well. If we can’t get them ashore legitimately, we’ll do it another way. There’s endless places to land them along the riverbank.’

‘Well, then,’ said James, clearly unconvinced, ‘let’s hope de Carondelet’s perception of the dangers is as acute as you say. But it seems a slender thread to me.’

‘How did he strike you, as a man?’

‘Excitable,’ James replied. ‘Quixotic, even. Under some pressure. Prepared to command someone like San Lucar de Barrameda only up to a point – which would go some way to explain it.’

‘Honourable?’

‘Not transparently so.’

‘I didn’t ask if he was a saint, James.’

‘On balance, I think, yes. After all, he backed away from de Barrameda’s report once he’d been shown the contradictions.’

‘He’s certainly not naturally devious, since his attempt to be cunning about us shifting our berth was painfully obvious. He might as well have looked me in the eye and said, “I’m up to something.”’

‘That’s a contradiction, Harry. In one breath you say he’s not devious then in the next you say he is.’

‘That may be more to do with his worries than his inclinations. As you say, he’s under some pressure. You don’t need to be very bright to detect that his problems here in New Orleans are manifold. And for reasons we don’t yet know, the loss of that treasure has dealt him a serious blow, one that has nothing to do with its actual value. Somehow it’s made matters worse. It’s the level of instability that will dictate his actions, of course. But I’m of the opinion that as far as he’s capable his word is his bond.’

‘De Barrameda is quite the opposite. And he clearly exerts great influence.’

‘I think we may find out tonight just how much, brother.’

‘He would have taken over the ship without hesitation.’

‘True,’ Harry replied. ‘De Barrameda’s the worst kind of Spanish officer; prickly and proud, without an ounce of common sense, who got his command because he’s a hidalgo. He’s probably totally useless at sea.’

‘Would that also apply to his crew?’ Harry looked at him questioningly. He smiled in return. ‘Just in case we were thinking of attempting the impossible.’

‘Impossible just about sums it up,’ Harry replied grimly.

‘Bad officers don’t run good crews, your honour,’ said Pender. ‘Even if they’ve got good men in amongst ’em.’

‘Let’s hope you’re right,’ said Harry, with feeling.

Pender looked at Harry keenly. ‘What do we do, your honour, if they try to come aboard while you’re ashore?’

Harry put his hand on Pender’s shoulder, his face grim. ‘In the end, that will have to be a decision you take at the time. If you think you can fight them off, do so. But I doubt if you’ll be exposed to any assault. Why bother? They’ve nothing to gain by damaging the ship in a situation where they can call on us to surrender any time they choose.’

‘I don’t like the sound of that word surrender, Capt’n.’

‘You’re right, Pender, and neither do I!’ Suddenly he shed what in a man like him looked remarkably like torpor and issued a stream of orders.

‘Say nothing to the Frenchmen. They’ll not take kindly to any notion that we might queer their pitch. I want the carpenter to make up some small rafts, big enough to carry barrels of gunpowder. He’s to drill a hole at the top of each one big enough to take a length of slow-match. No nails, or they’ll be heard all over the anchorage banging them in. Tell him they’re to be lashed together. Put others to fill our empty wine bottles with turpentine, and jam a bit of soaked tow into the neck. Empty any sea-chests
aboard except those belonging to the French. Get the sailmaker to line them with storm canvas. Then the gunner can fill them with gunpowder as well.’

James couldn’t keep the slight note of exasperation out of his voice. ‘Harry, you’ve just spent ten minutes telling us we have nothing to fear, and even if we did there’s nothing we can do about it. Now you’re issuing instructions for a battle.’

‘Who was that Roman cove who said that if you want peace prepare for war? I want to be just that in case de Barrameda persuades him to do something at odds with his own inclinations.’

James thought for a moment before continuing. ‘I can see the use for rafted barrels of gunpowder, Harry, as well as the bottles. But the sea-chests escape me.’