Thunderer (Thomas Kydd) by Julian Stockwin

Author:Julian Stockwin [Stockwin, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473698840
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2021-10-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

The tedium fell away abruptly for Kydd when a note was handed in to the officer-of-the-watch. It was short and to the point, from a Mr Johnstone, who begged an interview with him ashore at the Swan and Compass, concerning a matter of grave importance. There was no indication of the subject but a postscript added that, were it not so urgent a matter, he would have enclosed a covering from one Nicholas Renzi attesting to his bona fides. The mention of his dearest friend was enough for Kydd and he hurried ashore, some instinct telling him to go in plain clothes.

He knew the inn, not far off in Southsea, and soon he was being shown into the snug by a respectful maid.

A man rose noiselessly. His appearance – perfectly anonymous clerkly black, dark eyes a-glitter, like a crow’s, in a pallid face, a spare frame almost ascetic – was arresting.

‘Charles Johnstone. You may understand I represent the secretary of state for foreign affairs.’ The voice was low but dry and elegant.

‘You mentioned Mr Renzi.’

‘Lord Farndon. He’s been so good as to work for us in the past on several concerns of a vexatious nature.’

‘Is he in any kind of danger?’ Kydd wanted to know.

‘No. This meeting is on quite another matter, which I must tell you is of the gravest moment and considerable urgency.’

‘We may be interrupted, Mr Johnstone.’

‘I don’t believe so, Sir Thomas. I have hired the snug for the nonce. Shall we sit by the fire?’

No convivial glasses were summoned, and Kydd felt the stirrings of unease. The man was of the government but not in the public eye or an elected official. Who was he?

‘What I have to tell you is to be reckoned secret, not to be discussed with any.’

‘Not even my officers? I find that a hard thing for an active captain of a 74.’

‘None. Sir, there is a service you may render the Crown for which you are particularly well suited, so much so that your name was put forward as the first I might try.’

‘Sir. I’m captain of HMS Thunderer, a ship-of-the-line under twelve hours’ notice for sea. I cannot see how—’

‘Arrangements at the highest level will be made. Do, sir, hear what I have to say.’

‘Very well. Fire away, Mr Johnstone.’

‘You will have a fair idea of the forces by sea that Bonaparte commands.’

‘That he keeps in idleness in port, never to sail against us.’

‘There have been developments we’ve been made aware of that throw your conceiving into considerable doubt.’

‘With all due respect I hardly think you in a position to make comment on strategic naval dispositions, sir.’

‘Captain, what I can say is that Bonaparte’s idleness is a deliberate policy. They are in effect being husbanded against a great enterprise. We in government think it unwise to allow the scale of this accession to strength be known to the general public, and therefore have reported fewer than there actually are.’

‘Oh?’

‘Let me give you an example. Toulon and lesser ports comprehended by the name.

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