by Griff Hosker
“How much a bottle are they?” He wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to me. I read it and handed it to Jonas. They were charging for six bottles what we charged for a small barrel. “Thank you we will return when we have examined your other goods.”
We discovered that the prices they were charging for the lemons and the dried fruits were also inflated. “I think it is time to speak with Mr Fortnum and discover just who is robbing the Alpini family.”
There was an important looking man in the middle of the shop. He was obviously not a customer and his greasy smile reeked of an obsequious manager. I walked up to him and he oozed, “Yes sir. How can I be of assistance?”
“I would like to speak with Mr Fortnum please.”
“I am the manager sir and I am sure that I can deal with any issue you have.”
“I represent the Alpini family of Sicily and we supply many of your goods I wish to speak with Mr Fortnum, now!”
There was steel in my voice which wiped the smile from his face. “Old Mr Charles is not here today but I will see if Mr William can see you.”
“I am certainly seeing a different side to you today sir? A little more of the officer perhaps?”
“I have seen too many self important men in my time to be intimidated by them.”
Mr William Fortnum was about forty years old and was as sharp as they come. He was the antithesis of his fawning manager. He held out his hand he had a firm handshake, “I am William Fortnum. I am sorry for the delay and you are…?”
“Captain Robert Macgregor the representative of the Alpini family.” I handed him the letter of introduction.
He read as he walked, “Come with me gentlemen.” We went into a well appointed office on the first floor and he gestured to two well upholstered and comfortable chairs. He handed me the letter back and then said, “How may I help you?”
“I hope this will not be difficult but I have been sent to discover what happens to the Alpini goods when they reach England. From the prices you charge in your store I think that you are underpaying the family.”
I heard the intake of breath from Jonas but William seemed unconcerned. He reached down and took out a ledger. I saw the name Alpini on the spine. “Here are the accounts. Pray read them and then tell me if we are robbing your family.”
I read them and realised after one page that it was the agent. I closed it and handed it back to him. “I apologise sir. It seems we are both being robbed by Mr Lambert. He pays the family a tenth of what he charges you.”
“I suspected as much.”
“The family is increasing its production soon and there will be another ship too which will mean you will have more goods to sell. I think a better arrangement will be that we miss out the middleman and deal with you directly. Would that be acceptable?”
He smiled, “A much better arrangement.”
“Would you be so good as to write down on a piece of paper what you deem to be a price for our goods which will still enable you to make a profit?”
He looked surprised, “A strange request. Either you are very naïve or very trusting. Which is it?”
“Neither. I have seen the prices you charge and I know that you would not cook the goose which lays the golden eggs. You will pay a fair price because you know you can sell our goods and wish to continue to do so.”
“By Jove sir. It is refreshing to do business with an honest man.” He wrote down the numbers and handed it over. I read them and nodded. “And how do we cut out the middleman?”
“Jonas here will tell you when the ship is in port and we will deliver the goods directly here. From the numbers I read I suspect that Mr Lambert or someone at the warehouse is stealing from us as well. I will deal with that but this way you will get the goods on the day that they arrive.”
“Excellent. But will it not be you as the representative who deals with us?”
“I have other deals to do sir. Oh do not worry they are not in London but I will be travelling to Scotland. I have business there. Tell me, what has made your business so successful?”
“Firstly we deal in only the very best of goods and we deal with the best of clients. My father, the Mr Charles of the business, also had the idea of making hampers for the soldiers who were stationed abroad. It used to be just the West Indies, Canada and India but since the French Revolution we now have soldiers in the Low Countries and Gibraltar. It is a lucrative business. One man’s loss and all that.”
“Well thank you for your honesty Mr Fortnum.”
We shook hands, “It has been a pleasure to deal with you sir and I will make sure that my staff expedite the meeting next time.”
When we were outside Jonas looked worried. “Are you sure the Alpinis will be happy with me dealing with Mr Fortnum for them?”
“They have little choice. We certainly don’t want Lambert robbing us blind do we? Besides I am the representative and I have made that decision. If my kinsman does not like it then he can dismiss me. And now back to the ship.”
The captain was furious when he heard what the agent had been doing. “It was me that recommended him. I’ll go down there and gut him like a fish.”
“Steady on captain. Let us wait until tomorrow. We need to find a lawyer to deal with this in the court of law.”
“No you don’t, Robbie. Lawyers in England are worse than the criminals. Lawyers rob you and then try to make you feel grateful to them for doing so.”
“Well we need the books and some compensation for the count.”
“Jonas, you stay here in charge of the ship tomorrow. Get the holds cleaned and the ship reprovisioned. I’ll go with Robbie here and the Second Mate. We will see if we can’t persuade Mr Lambert make good what he has stolen.” He shook his head. “And I was going to see if I could get another cargo from him to take back to Italy.”
“I would see Mr Fortnum.”
“Why? He imports not exports...”
“We heard today that he now sends hampers to soldiers serving abroad. You pass the Low Countries and Gibraltar do you not?”
“Aye we do.”
“And, captain, I heard today that the British Army is going to Egypt. We could do that too.” Jonas had kept his eyes and ears open.
I turned. “Where did you hear that, Jonas?”
“There was a chap selling newspapers on the Strand. You were too busy taking in the sights to notice but I saw the headline and heard his call.”
So my comrades in Egypt would now be facing a real enemy; the British Army and they would not find them so easy to defeat. “Well then captain, I think that tomorrow we head for the agent and, hopefully, he will have secured a ship for me before we threaten him.”
“Don’t you worry about that sir. I can get you on a ship. I have been sailing these waters since I was a lad. I know all the captains. There are half a dozen colliers in port right now.”
We went armed to the agent. We were admitted straight away and we were all smiles. “Ah Captain Dinsdale. It is good to see you. I take it you have come for me to arrange a cargo back to Naples? I think I can help you there.”
“I am in need of a cargo but before we come to that have you arranged a berth for Captain Macgregor yet?”
“Sadly, no there are none to be had but if you come back next week.”
Captain Dinsdale looked at me. His look said it all. He was lying. I leaned forwards. “Then perhaps you could help me, as the Alpini representative of course, and show me the accounts of the Alpini family.”
His nervous eyes flickered to the bookshelf to his right. Like the rest of the room it was packed with papers and files. “I am afraid that it is not in the office. I took it home last night to bring it up to date and I forgot you were coming in.”
I laughed, “Captain Dinsdale this man tells lies as easily as a bird flies.” I nodded to Jennings who stood, opened the door and jerked the tiny clerk from his chair and into the already crowded room.
“What the!”
“First o
f all you are lying about the colliers but we will skip over that. Yesterday I visited Mr William Fortnum and he showed me his accounts. They are somewhat at odds with the money we have been receiving and with the goods he has been sold.”
He took on an indignant air, “If I had the books here I would show you that he is lying and I have dealt honestly with the family!”
“Oh how I will enjoy telling Mr Fortnum how you slander his name.” I turned to the quaking clerk. “Now the Second Mate could break every bone in your body if the captain so ordered but I am sure he won’t need to do that. Which one of those,” I pointed to the files on the book case, “is the Alpini ledger?”
Lambert’s shoulders sagged but the clerk said, “I need this job sir. Don’t make me betray my master.”
“Your job will be secure I promise you that but your hand may be crushed and then how would you earn a living?”
He pointed a quivering finger at a file with red writing on it. The file name was smudged but I could now see that it looked like Alpini. I stood and went to grab the file. Mr Lambert half stood as though he would stop me. “Please try to stop me. I am looking for an excuse to pound your face into raw meat and an assault on me would be just the provocation I needed.”
He sat in his chair, defeated. I scanned the pages. Captain Dinsdale was furious I could sense that and he reached over and grabbed a handful of grubby shirt and cravat. “I don’t need any provocation. I trusted you and you have betrayed me. I wonder how many other captains have been betrayed by you.” There was a look of terror on the man’s face. The Alpini family were not the only ones being robbed.
“Leave him for the moment, captain. He will need teeth to be able to answer my questions.” I smiled, “This is not a question, at least not yet. You have been stealing from the Alpini family. Now here is the question. Does your partner, Mr Fowler know of this crime?”
He almost whispered, “There is no Mr Fowler. It just makes us sound grander than we are.”
I looked around at the office. It had no sign of wealth about it. “Do you own a fine house?”
“I live upstairs.”
I was bewildered. “Then where does the money go. You have stolen enough money to buy a grand house in Mayfair where is the money?”
“I gamble.”
My heart sank. So much for getting some money back for the family. I turned to the clerk. “Is this true?”
“He does gamble sir.”
The captain stood up and pulled a wicked looking knife from his boot. “Then if we cannot get the family’s money back I might as well slit his throat here and now!”
The agent squeaked a terrified, “No! I have some money. Please don’t hurt me!”
I felt sickened by this creature before me but I knew I owed a debt to the Alpini family and this man would be no use to me dead. “Get it!”
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a wad of paper. “Here sir.”
“What is this?”
Captain Dinsdale took it and examined it. “This is money sir. Bank notes.”
I shook my head. “This is no use to the family in Italy!”
The clerk had sat silently. “You will need to open a bank account and deposit the money. They can give a promissory note and that can be deposited in Naples.”
It sounded implausible but the captain nodded. “Very well. I would get into another line of work and stop gambling. We will take these ledgers and show them to Mr Fortnum. If I had time I would prosecute you. You have been lucky.”
As we walked back to the ship Captain Dinsdale said, “I just wanted to hit him.”
“As did I but it would have gained us nothing and made us liable to criminal proceedings. This is all that we can do.”
Once at the ship we counted the money. It represented barely a tenth of the money that had been stolen but it was a start. At least I felt I had done something useful to repay all of Sir John’s kindness. When I had finished my Scottish quest I would be able to decide what direction I wanted to take. This was the end of one part of my life and the start of another.
Chapter 16
We returned to Mr Fortnum and showed him the ledger. He looked down the columns and examined every entry. When he finished he closed the book as though to expunge the crime. He was as appalled and shocked as we were. “This is a betrayal of trust. I will do no more business with that criminal. What will you do with the books?”
“Return them to the count. Perhaps you could advise us on the money? The agent’s clerk suggested a bank and a promissory note.”
“That seems a good idea.” He gave me a card. “My bank is around the corner. If you show them this card they will facilitate your request.”
“Thank you sir.”
Captain Dinsdale nodded. “And while you and Mr Jennings do that I will discuss cargo with Mr Fortnum.”
The instruction, ‘just around the corner’, was slightly misleading. It was four streets away. We had only gone a hundred yards when I sensed that someone was following us. I pretended I had something on the bottom of my boot and I leaned against the wall to clean it. I glanced down the street and saw four rough looking men lounging some way behind us. We continued on our way. “I think, Mr Jennings, that we are being followed.”
“Four big blokes?”
“Yes. Did you see them?”
“I spotted them lounging outside. Do you want me to do anything?”
“No we’ll go to the bank first and then we will be able to deal with them.”
The bank was a small private one. We had to knock on the door and it wasn’t until they saw Mr Fortnum’s card that they allowed us in. The bank manager was effusive once he realised we were friends of Mr Fortnum. I discovered that Queen Charlotte had been a client with the emporium and there were close associations with the royal family. It expedited our business. I arranged to pick up the note the next day. When we emerged there was no sign of our followers. I felt that they were close all the way back to Piccadilly. We met the captain and returned to East Cheap.
When we told Captain Dinsdale about the four men he nodded, “That Lambert gave in too easy. He’ll want his money and the ledger back. Best not travel alone. Now what we need is to find you a ship. We’ll head for the ‘Coal Hole Tavern’. The colliers like their ale and it is a good beer that they serve there. Now that we no longer have that money about us I feel a lot safer. Mr Jennings, if you would return to the ship and keep a good watch I would appreciate it. That Lambert is a nasty piece of work and I am regretting not dealing with him a little more firmly.”
The tavern was lively. I looked out of place in my fine clothes but, as they all knew the captain, we were made welcome. It was the sort of place Pierre would have enjoyed. As we ordered our beers I wondered how he was doing in Breteuil. The captain ordered me something called porter. It was a black beer with a creamy head and tasted unlike any beer I had ever tasted before. It had a pleasant sweet taste and I enjoyed it. We took our tankards to a table close to the roaring fire. Captain Dinsdale explained, “Better light and people can see us. I told the landlord what we were after and the captains should seek us out. I told them you would pay. Is that right?”
“Of course. I am not without funds.”
“I know but I wondered if you wanted to work your passage.”
“Me? I am about as much use as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest.”
“Do not put yourself down you acquitted yourself well on the voyage here.”
I sipped the beer. I had not enjoyed such a night since before I joined the chasseurs all those years ago. I looked at the empty tables and the empty chairs in the tavern and thought of Claude, Michael, Albert and all the others who would no longer be able to do as I did. Captain Dinsdale nudged me, “Come on cheer up. I think someone is coming over.”
A bear of a man wandered over. He had a black beard and a shock of black hair which seemed unnaturally unruly. He grinned as he put his hand out. “Well aye, if it isn’t Matthew Dinsdale.
How are you, you old pirate.”
“Fine and how are you Geordie?”
“Canny. I wondered who was asking for a berth. Is it your friend here? The young lad?”
“Yes this is Robert Macgregor and he wishes to go to Newcastle and then travel to Scotland.”
“Scotland? What the hell for? It’s full of mad Jocks! Now Newcastle is a totally different thing. Very civilised.”
“Before you put both your feet in your mouth Geordie I should tell you that Robert is from Scottish stock.”
“Eeh I am sorry. No offence meant.”
I liked the big bluff man immediately. “And none taken but I have never been to Scotland before. I was born in France.”
“Aw you are a poor bugger aren’t ye. Scottish roots and born among the snail eaters.”
The captain shook his head, “When he isn’t talking he is alright Robert.” He turned to Geordie, “Robert was a soldier and served in Egypt. He is a captain.”
“You look too young to have done so much. Well I never. Well if you want a berth on The Hotspur you are more than welcome. She’s a sound ship and we’ll make a fast time. She’s no palace but she suits me and the lads.”
“Thank you kindly Captain…?”
“It’s Captain Percy but everyone calls me Geordie.”
“Well I will take you up on your offer. When do you sail?”
“The day after tomorrow. I have a cargo to load and then we’re off.”
Captain Dinsdale was suddenly interested. “What is the cargo?”
“Hops. The brewery up in Newcastle likes the Kentish hops. It’s a bit of a bugger as we have to take them in barrels.” He sniffed, “They don’t like getting them covered in coal dust. Gives them flavour I say.”
Captain Dinsdale rose, “Well we’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll just be finishing my pint and then I’ll follow you. I canna stand London prices. They must think we are all made of money!” He shot a dark look at the landlord who was not bothered at all by the criticism.