Grantville Gazette, Volume 44 by Paula Goodlett

Author:Paula Goodlett [Goodlett, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: 1632, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-30T21:35:48+00:00

A Capital Idea

Written by Jack Carroll

Brussels

1637

"Noted, Your Majesties. Next on the budget agenda is an item from the marine desk to begin work on precise charts of the approaches to the principal ports for the benefit of the proposed deeper vessels."

The queen silently pointed to the fine new Augsburg clock at the far end of the council chamber, where the stately swing of its pendulum ticked off the seconds. The king glanced toward it, and laid down the paper in his hand. "Unfortunately, we cannot consider it at this moment. The audience with the envoy from the Penacook tribe is due shortly. That might seem a small matter, but I find it advantageous to be known for keeping such meetings at the agreed time."

The councilors and functionaries scrambled hastily to their feet and bowed as the king and queen rose. The recording clerk's pen pirouetted across the page. "Yes, Sire, cannot consider at this time."

****

The scene was reminiscent of nothing so much as a Rembrandt masterpiece, though not one painted in this world as yet. The dozen men who rose from their chairs as Adriano entered the chamber were dressed in a manner befitting the cream of the Netherlands' merchant fraternity, as indeed they were. "Welcome, mijnheeren. I am Adriano Navarro, of His Majesty's staff. I regret this delay of a few moments, but it was unavoidable. Please, be at ease. Will you take wine? Or some good Dutch beer?" At the brief flicker of smiles on a few of the faces, his left hand swept though an exquisitely polished gesture in the general direction of the footman by the door. "Maarten will see to it."

He settled into the one empty chair in the circle, and flourished a sheaf of papers. "Now, then, your letter to His Majesty has been directed to my attention." He turned to the portly burgher on his right. "Everyone seems to be looking your way. Will you make the introductions?"

"Very well, Señor Navarro. I am Wolfert van Raaphorst, representing a consortium of marine insurers. Next to me is Chardus Hoosters, trading overseas in rare metals and ores of interest to our near neighbors to the east. Then Jan Smits, in the coastal freight business . . .

" . . . and last, Marcel Breault, associated with Essen machinery interests."

"I am honored to meet you all. And so we come to the purpose of your visit, and what you wish to bring about, presumably with His Majesty's assistance. Of that, I find myself uncertain."

Van Raaphorst glanced toward Smits, who nodded and lowered his glass. "You are perhaps aware, Señor Navarro, that some United States mapmakers have recently sounded and charted the way across the shallows to the harbor they control at Harlingen, and have marked the channel with buoys and stone monuments, carrying bells and whistles that sound clearly across the water? And that far from keeping these charts to themselves as military or trade secrets, their government map office sells them to whoever will pay?"

"No, but please continue.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.