Ramage #05 - Ramage's Prize by Dudley Pope

Author:Dudley Pope [Pope, Dudley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction, Fiction, General, Great Britain, Historical, War & Military, War Stories, Ship Captains, Sea Stories, Great Britain - Officers, Napoleonic Wars; 1800-1815, Great Britain - History; Naval - 19th Century, Ramage; Nicholas (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780935526806
Google: DGDhjPDv0ZYC
Amazon: 0935526803
Publisher: McBooks Press
Published: 1975-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Kerguelen sat down on the bunk as though paying a social call and ran a hand almost apologetically over the stubble on his face. "You gentlemen are so freshly shaven ... You asked to see me."

"We have a business proposal to make," Ramage said bluntly.

"So?" Kerguelen's eyebrows lifted, and he smiled ironically as he glanced round the cabin. "Banking ... shipping ... armaments...?"

"Shipping," Ramage said.

"It's an interesting business. Banking is dull, and armaments so noisy. What is the proposal?"

Ramage picked up one of the chessmen left on the board and tapped the table with it. "I'm gambling on this voyage, and so are you. I'm betting the Arabella will be recaptured before we reach St Malo; you're wagering you'll be able to dodge any British ships. What do you reckon the odds are?"

"Even," Kerguelen said promptly. "Perhaps slightly in your favour."

"But neither of us wants to lose."

Kerguelen shrugged his shoulders. "But one of us has to!"

"No," Ramage said. "That's why we asked to see you."

"A moment," Kerguelen said warily, glancing at the door, "if you have any trick in mind, I warn you..."

Ramage shook his head. "No tricks, I promise you. Our proposal is this: instead of taking the Arabella to France from Lisbon and selling her in St Malo for whatever you can get, will you sell her to us in Lisbon for an agreed price?"

Kerguelen's jaw dropped. "Do you have money with you?"

The Britons burst out laughing, and Kerguelen said sheepishly, "Well, how do you pay if you have no money?"

The Frenchman was showing interest; Ramage was sure of that. French money was not a popular currency these days - particularly with privateers trying to use it to buy timber and rope from Baltic or Portuguese merchants.

"You're already bound for a neutral port," Ramage said. "If we can't raise the money in Lisbon we can have it sent out from London."

"Oh no! You aren't going to be allowed on shore: it would be too easy for you to escape."

"We would give our parole," Ramage said stiffly. "Anyway, only one of us need go on shore for a couple of hours to arrange it. You keep us on board until you get the money, then you hand the ship over to us."

Kerguelen frowned and Ramage realized that he was still looking for the trap. He hoped Much would remember his instructions.

"What sort of price had you in mind?" the Frenchman asked.

"What price would you get in St Malo?"

"You can't expect me to show the cards in my hand," the Frenchman said. "You make an offer."

Ramage hated bargaining: having no experience of business, it embarrassed him. He glanced helplessly at Yorke.

"We offer £2,500 for the ship and our freedom, paid to you in cash at Lisbon."

Kerguelen made a mental calculation and then shook his head.

"I'm sorry, because the idea appeals to me, but I can get a lot more in St Malo; enough to make me take a chance with your cruisers."

Yorke said, "Don't make any mistake, M'sieur: the money comes out of our own pockets.

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