‘As you can see, sir, you’re quite prominently mentioned.’
‘It is the price of my rank.’
‘Not being a sailor, perhaps it would be helpful if I explain to you, before I send word to the Governor, what this means. You have adopted an air of Olympian detachment in the matter of the loss of the Gauchos, quite simply because you claim to have been in Havana. Yet this log shows that you were not.’
‘A forgery.’
‘The trouble with the story you told is this: once it is questioned it tends to unravel.’
Harry lifted the chart to show the first of the paintings. It was well controlled, but he was sure he saw de Coburrabias jerk. ‘For instance, you are known to be attached to this lady, indeed you have gone to all the trouble of petitioning Madrid to be allowed to marry her. Where is she now, I wonder?’
‘This is all very interesting, but the purpose of my visit is—’
Harry interrupted him rudely. ‘The purpose of your visit, Don Cayetano, is to ensure that my money stays in Louisiana. Here it is much easier to steal. But I am in a position to trade with you. I will tell you the whereabouts of an equal sum, and one that is easier to transport.’
The gold ingot landed on the table with a thud, identifying marks uppermost. For all his rigid self-control, the soldier’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
‘Where did you get this?’
‘Perhaps we found it on the Gauchos.’
‘No!’
‘That is something you can only know if you were aboard the ship. But really what happened on the Gauchos is no concern of mine. That chest full of money is.’ De Coburrabias was looking at James. Harry could almost see his mind working, getting ready to propose a hostage. ‘My brother sails away with me, as do my crew.’
His fingers reached out, to touch the gold, and Harry saw in his eyes that look he’d seen so often, the strange fascination that this metal exercised on men’s minds.
‘I am at liberty to discuss every matter you raised.’
‘Including our money.’
He gave a curt nod. ‘Yes.’
‘Splendid. As the Barón de Carondelet’s senior military adviser you will be able to tell him just how much havoc we can cause. And since he knows that war is imminent, he will be aware that the normal neutral rights are something I can contravene at will.’
‘Who told you war is imminent?’
‘Captain Pascal de Guerin, whose body, at this moment, lies buried just north of the Manchac Post. He told me, though not willingly, that all de Godoy is waiting for is some money. I must say I know exactly how he feels.’
‘You killed de Guerin!’
‘In rather the same manner you dealt with Rodrigo. Only I was more successful than you, Don Cayetano.’ It was Harry’s turn to finger the ingot. ‘I got something for my trouble.’
‘De Guerin had the gold?’
‘Yes. I must say General Wilkinson will be so disappointed. Not least to know that a Spanish officer, albeit reluctantly, betrayed him. But then if he’s truly friendly with Spain, he, in turn, will betray America for nothing. That is, unless you would like to pass it on to him.’
‘I would like a glass of wine.’
‘Certainly, James, would you mind?’
Silence reigned while it was poured, Harry taking a glass as well. De Coburrabias drained the first one straight off and held his hand out for a refill. And all the time his brain was racing, trying to find the flaw in what Harry had said. His real problem was that none existed. Harry left him to stew for a bit before continuing.
‘De Carondelet, as you are aware, is not a trusting soul. And he certainly reposed no faith in you or de Barrameda. So he pretended to put the gold on the Gauchos when, in fact, he sent it north with Captain de Guerin. Rodrigo was telling you the truth. You tortured him for nothing. But, of course, once you’d killed him you had to dispose of the rest of the crew. A good idea to put him on the raft like that, so that everyone would suspect pirates. What a pity for the first time in his life de Barrameda did something properly. And there were suddenly no pirates around to blame. More wine?’
The contents of his glass disappeared again, and were replaced.
‘She wouldn’t have sunk if we hadn’t towed her. But we moved the plug that you placed to keep her afloat. What was the plan, Don Cayetano? After all, you diverted those two transports to look for her. Was it the notion that once the ship was brought in, de Carondelet would have to tell you the gold wasn’t on it? Or was it a desire to find out if you’d been cheated?’
‘What I’m trying to work out, Captain Ludlow, is how you found all this out.’
Harry kept his face rigid, and tried to swallow some wine to cover his feeling of triumph.
‘Well, the unfortunate de Guerin was a rich source. You must remember that I am as ruthless as you.’
‘Is that likely to threaten me?’
‘Possibly. But I would really rather get out of here with my own money. To get to the north of the Manchac Post again…’
‘Again?’
‘If you were to ask Captain Oliverta which way I came when I tried to visit you, he will tell you I came downriver. As I was explaining, the easiest way is to do, how do you say it, a “Little Manchac”. By the way, that’s a fine portrait you have on the wall opposite your King, though I didn’t much take to the miserable cur cowering in the background.’
‘Where is de Guerin buried?’
Harry held up his hand. ‘All in good time, Don Cayetano. First we must discuss my gold and silver, before we discuss yours.’
‘I was asked my opinion on the cost of ignoring you.’
‘This would be after you were asked if you could stop me.’
‘Yes.’ He smiled, for the first time since coming aboard. ‘It will not surprise you to know that El Señor San Lucar de Barrameda offered to bring you to the Barón in chains.’
‘I’m tempted to let him try. But I’m more interested in your opinion.’
‘I told that Wallonian idiot the truth, that if he wanted you stopped he’d better get a couple of frigates here quickly.’
‘Yet you advised him not to pay us back.’
‘I said to await the outcome of our preliminary meeting.’
‘Good. I take it you will now advise him to trade.’
‘How do I know you aren’t lying?’
‘You don’t, Don Cayetano. I told you I was ruthless, didn’t I? Do you really think that I would let you stand between me and my money? Given that I know all about your recent exploits, as I think you will admit, down to the last detail, it seems unlikely.’
‘And what if I tell de Carondelet about de Guerin?’
‘That is no problem to me. I am protected by his parole and a flag of truce. But I wonder, might he not just ask you why I was so forthcoming?’
‘I will need to take this with me.’
‘Feel free to do so. After all, it will soon be yours.’
‘Time to go back, I think.’
‘Tell me, will you stay in Louisiana?’
‘Yes.’
‘Now that Mademoiselle Chrétien is dead.’
‘Rodrigo, of all people. She cuckolded me with that slug.’
‘Women!’ said Harry with a shake of the head. ‘Though I had to admit to being rather fond of Hyacinthe Feraud.’
De Coburrabias looked hard at James. ‘She would have betrayed you, Ludlow. Perhaps, in her foolishness, she did already.’
‘Then it’s as well she is dead, though I’m curious as to why.’
‘She asked questions that were inappropriate.’
‘People are usually killed for answers, not questions.’
‘One leads to the other. Best to remove the means of doing both.’
Harry nearly cracked then, the way de Coburrabias was so cold-bloodedly discussing the way he mutilated Hyacinthe. But his longer-term aims won out. As they watched him depart, Harry turned to James to thank him.
‘What did he
mean when he said Hyacinthe had probably betrayed me?’
‘I think he meant mischief, brother. He didn’t say what questions she asked.’
‘You sound as if you know, James.’
‘De Chigny recognised Mademoiselle Chrétien, did he not? That portrait was in her quarters at the Hôtel de la Porte d’Orléans all the time you were away. Hyacinthe would recognise it just as quickly, and know that if that portrait was on the ship, so was the lady herself. The natural person to ask about that would be Don Cayetano. I doubt she was equipped to understand the ruthlessness, never mind the devious qualities, of someone like him.’
‘You’d come to like her too?’ asked Harry.
‘I must say I didn’t think you’d pull it off,’ replied James evasively.
‘Neither did I.’
The next time de Coburrabias put off from the shore, the chest that had been out of their sight for so long took a prominent position on the deck, with him standing over it. Harry called de Chigny into his cabin.
‘Lieutenant. You are to be taken ashore and there is something I would like you to do for me.’ He handed the youngster a package. ‘Please put this out of sight, and hand it to the Barón de Carondelet personally. It contains information that is vital to his future well-being.’
‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘It is enough to ensure that you are not censured for the casualties you suffered last night.’ That made him blush, and drop his head. ‘Put it inside your coat and give it to the Barón as soon as you see him. He is waiting for you on the quay.’
‘It’s heavy.’
‘And important, remember. Now you’d best get up on deck.’
Harry followed him out of the door. The breeze had freshened, cooling the sweat on his face. He stood watching as the Navarro repeated the earlier manoeuvre. De Coburrabias crossed the gangplank again, this time followed by two struggling sailors, the chest between them.
‘Pender, look to that, if you please, and check the contents.’
His men grabbed it off the Spaniards and laid it down on the deck. Pender had his picks out and on his knees was working steadily.
‘You have something for me.’
‘Yes. I have the location of your reward.’
He handed de Coburrabias a piece of parchment, a map which he’d drawn from memory.
‘Bayou Pierre. Why so far north?’
‘I could hardly take de Guerin in Spanish territory. And it’s not a place many people want to visit.’
‘Are you ready, Lieutenant?’
De Chigny came to attention. ‘Sir.’
‘Then let us proceed.’
He turned to walk away, but Harry restrained him, waiting till de Chigny was out of earshot. ‘Don Cayetano, would I be right in assuming that de Carondelet’s safe conduct ends the minute you step ashore?’
‘No, Captain Ludlow, the second.’
‘One other thing. Why did you lie to me about murdering your mistress?’
‘Are you so sure I did?’
‘Not positive. But I did wonder why you took all the food off the Gauchos.’
‘Do you miss anything, Ludlow?’
‘I hope not,’ Harry replied, coldly.
De Coburrabias nearly lost control, such was the depth of his feelings. But only Harry, who was looking at him, observed this.
‘Mademoiselle Chrétien loved society, Ludlow. She badgered me for years so that as my wife she could move in the correct circles. So I have made her a Queen. I admit her Kingdom is small, and barren. But it is all hers, if you don’t count the millions of birds.’
De Carondelet was waiting to greet de Chigny on the quay, his face set like a stern uncle. The boy had the package in his hand so swiftly it looked like a desire to deflect criticism. The Governor tore it open, his eyes so large they seemed to fill his face. The silver flashed in the sunlight and he read the message before turning to de Coburrabias, waving it under his nose. The crack of the musket ball came a split second after it had entered his head. The soldier crumpled to the ground. De Carondelet, stunned, looked once more at the writing on the inside of the wrapping paper.
From the man who recommended Captain Juan Baptiste Rodrigo to your service.
And for the memory of Hyacinthe Feraud.
Out on the river, James dropped the nude sketches of Hyacinthe into the water. Innocent they might be, but Harry, he knew, wouldn’t understand. Above his head, his brother raised Able Mabel and allowed the wind to blow the last residue of smoke out of the barrel.
‘All hands,’ he said, in a soft voice.
About the Author
JACK LUDLOW is the pen-name of writer David Donachie, who was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has always had an abiding interest in history: from the Roman Republic to medieval warfare as well as the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which he has drawn on for his many historical adventure novels. David lives in Deal with his partner, the novelist Sarah Grazebrook.
Copyright
Allison & Busby Limited
12 Fitzroy Mews
London W1T 6DW
allisonandbusby.com
First published in 1996.
This ebook edition published by Allison & Busby in 2015.
Copyright © 1996 by DAVID DONACHIE
The moral right of the author is hereby asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All characters and events in this publication other than those clearly in the public domain are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent buyer.
ISBN 978–0–7490–1927–3
The Scent of Betrayal Page 43