Winds of Folly (16 page)

‘I think you may rest easily on that score, Your Excellency. With the limited forces at his command I do not believe Captain Peake will contemplate an invasion of the Holy See.'

They shared a good-natured chuckle at this, rather more vigorous on the Commodore's part than upon the Viceroy's, but Nathan was surprised to observe the degree of amity between the two men. Nelson was all charm and affability, while the Viceroy appeared almost deferential in his regard; certainly he seemed more than happy to let the Commodore take the lead in his instruction. Nathan assumed it was the diplomat in him, smoothing the waters after obliging Neptune to bow to his will, but it soon became apparent that it stemmed from a sincere admiration. More than that, as their discussions progressed it became clear that the Viceroy desired the younger man's approval – a rare achievement in one who, for all his
merit, was still relatively junior in rank and not much more than halfway up the Captains' List. Still, it said much for Nelson's estimation of his own merits that he accepted the role with such confidence.

‘You will also pay your respects to the Imperial Governor in Trieste,' the Commodore continued, moving his finger up the Adriatic to the Austrian port on the Istrian coast opposite Venice. ‘It is imperative that the Austrians are made aware of our presence in the region and that we are making every effort in their support. You will find that the
Unicorn
is by far the most powerful ship-of-war in the Adriatic, apart from the Venetians', of course. The Austrians have just a couple of xebecs, of no more than fourteen guns apiece, and a few small gunboats. Nothing to pose a problem for a French national ship or even a well-armed privateer. A demonstration of our own strength would, of course, be appreciated. If you were to sail into Trieste with a string of French prizes at your stern it would greatly improve our standing with the Imperial court.'

Nathan did his best to maintain a neutral expression, as if the capture of half-a-dozen enemy corsairs might be accomplished every day before breakfast.

‘And then there is Venice,' Nelson concluded, turning to the Viceroy again.

‘Ah yes.' The Viceroy passed a hand over his forehead and frowned a little. ‘The
Serenissima
has, as you are no doubt aware, been in decline for many years.'

Nathan nodded gravely, privately reflecting that until his conversation with Fremantle, he would have assumed the Viceroy was talking about a woman, an elderly duchess perhaps. But Elliot had embarked upon a history lesson and he did his best to pay attention.

‘There was a time, during one of the many wars with the Turk, when the Arsenale turned out a new warship, fully
equipped, every day. She was the greatest naval power the world had ever known, greater than Carthage, Greece or Rome in all their glory. But those days are long gone. The
Serenissima
has become synonymous with decline, decadence and corruption. However, she still maintains a great naval tradition and her fleet, as we discussed earlier, is still one of the most powerful in the Mediterranean.' He paused and took a sip of wine, gathering his thoughts. ‘This has not escaped the attention of His Majesty's Government, even before Bonaparte crossed the Alps. It was appreciated that if the Venetian fleet fell into the hands of the French, their combined forces would far outnumber our own fleet in the Mediterranean.'

It would not be difficult, Nathan reflected privately. Sir John Jervis had no more than a dozen ships of the line to bottle up an equal number of the French in Toulon.

‘Various approaches were made to the Doge and his advisers, both by ourselves and the Austrians,' the Viceroy continued. ‘They were unsuccessful. The Venetians remain wedded to a policy of neutrality. However, less formal overtures were made to the Venetian Admiral of the Fleet, Giovanni Dandolo. Dandolo has lately become a member of the Council of Ten – which is to say, the ruling council of Venice. His family has filled the office of Doge in the past, and he is known to favour an alliance with the Austrians and ourselves. Having seen what has happened to Genoa and Tuscany, of course, he will know that a declared state of neutrality will not save them from Bonaparte if he should choose to invade. This may strengthen the Admiral's case. But if the French
do
invade – and Venice falls – Dandolo is prepared to assemble the fleet in the Ionian Islands which he will then place under the protection of King George.

‘I tell you frankly that this is a policy we have much encouraged. The fate of the Ionian Islands – and the Venetian
fleet – is more important for us than the fate of Venice itself. However, Dandolo requires certain assurances – securities, one might say. To be precise, one half of a million pounds in gold.'

There was a small silence in the cabin, broken at length by the Commodore.

‘He does not sell himself short,' he remarked.

‘He has suggested that he will need the funds to provide better facilities for the fleet in Corfu and to place it upon a war footing. And from our point of view, of course, it is a very fair price indeed. I believe the cost of building and equipping a single ship of the line is at least fifty thousand pounds. And the islands themselves will be a considerable asset to His Majesty's Government. A Gibraltar in the eastern Mediterranean.'

He looked to Nathan who nodded his comprehension, though he was wondering quite how much this mercenary Admiral was going to cost him personally. It seemed to him that his journey into the Adriatic had far more to do with supporting Dandolo than with any concerns with privateers or the Austrians.

‘May I ask what contact we have with Dandolo?' he ventured.

‘The British Minister to Venice, Sir Richard Worsley, has, for obvious reasons, been obliged to maintain contact through an intermediary. However, all seems to be going according to plan, though it has been difficult to discover precisely what is happening in Venice of late.'

Previous experience had given Nathan a nose for prevarication, particularly in the political animal. Nelson sensed it, too, judging from the sharp look he gave the Viceroy from under his brow.

‘I should say that
I
have not heard,' Elliot added hastily. ‘It is quite possible that Sir Richard has communicated directly
with London by way of Germany. However, as you know, communications have been much disrupted by Bonaparte's activities in the north and by the activities of French cruisers at sea. This is one of our reasons for sending Captain Peake into the Adriatic. We need to re-establish our contacts in Venice and assure them that we have agreed to their terms. The amount requested has been made available, in guineas, and will be despatched to Corfu, through the agency of the Levant Company, as soon as the fleet – and the islands – have been delivered safely into our hands.'

Nathan regarded him warily. There was something that needed to be clarified here – and in the presence of the Commodore, who was his direct superior in the chain of command. ‘You wish me to deliver this information personally?'

The Viceroy glanced uneasily at Nelson before he spoke. ‘We must leave that to your discretion, I believe, and the circumstances in which you find yourself. However, your previous experience as, how shall I put it, a … a confidential agent for His Majesty's Government, does make you an ideal candidate for such a mission. And the Commodore concurs with me in this.'

This time Nelson gave a nod. ‘Any questions?' he enquired of Nathan. His tone and the look that accompanied it may have been ironic. Nathan resisted the temptation to say it all sounded perfectly straightforward.

‘I assume I am to have written orders?'

‘Of course. I will instruct my secretary to prepare them as soon as this interview is ended.'

‘And when am I to leave?'

‘As soon as you are able,' replied the Commodore briskly. ‘You may provision at Naples, where you will call on your journey to the south. His Excellency has despatches for the British Envoy there and I will give you a short note to carry to
him. Now as to your complement.
Bonne Aventure
is presently under the command of one of your officers, I believe, with a prize crew?' Nathan nodded, though his head was swimming with other considerations. ‘I have it in mind to give the command to one of my own officers, Lieutenant Compton. I take it you would have no objection? I assure you I cannot recommend him more highly.'

Nathan bowed his compliance as, indeed, he was obliged to, for it was the flag officer's prerogative to appoint officers to a command, but he had mixed feelings about the appointment. He knew Henry Compton to be a good officer, but Tully would not be happy to relinquish his temporary command of the sloop. On the other hand, it would be good to have him back aboard the
Unicorn
. But Nathan was already working out what might be wrung as a concession. ‘I am afraid Lieutenant Compton will find the
Bonne Aventure
desperately undercrewed,' he put in quickly. ‘And if I am to take any more prizes …'

‘I will see what we can do,' Nelson assured him, but with ill grace – Captains were always complaining they were short-crewed. ‘Of course, the transports in the harbour may provide us with additional hands.' Nathan's qualms about stealing prime seamen from the convoy were clearly not shared by his commanding officer. ‘And I can let you have one of my junior officers as acting lieutenant for he is, I believe, more than ready for a promotion.' Nathan bowed his thanks, though maintaining private reservations so far as the additional officer was concerned, for despite the assurance, he knew Nelson would have no qualms about giving him some elderly snottie or master's mate who was making life hell for his young gentlemen and the crew. ‘Then I think that concludes our interview,' Nelson smiled and gave Nathan his hand, ‘and it only remains for me to wish you joy of your commission.'

‘There is one other thing,' the Viceroy announced as Nathan prepared to take his leave. He appeared a trifle embarrassed. ‘You will find that Venice is a city very much addicted to
intrigue
, both of a political and a … a
sexual
nature, and sometimes the two are … well, you take my point.'

Nathan's expression did not alter but he wondered what on earth the Viceroy was trying to tell him. He looked to the Commodore for assistance but Nelson appeared intent on his study of the map.

‘When in Rome,' the Viceroy persisted gamely.

‘Or Venice,' put in the Commodore without looking up from his map.

‘Or Venice,' the Viceroy conceded, ‘it is not
always
advisable to do as … as the Romans.' The smile turned into a frown as he realised the Commodore's intervention had not improved his adage. ‘Or the Venetians. And as a serving officer of King George you will, of course, at all times preserve your, your …'

The word he was probably looking for was integrity. Possibly it stuck in his throat.

At last Nelson lifted his head. ‘
Virgo intacta
,' he supplied with a thin smile.

‘I
f I were to give you an instruction, but issued a warning to keep your virginity intact, what particular conclusion would you draw?' Nathan enquired of his friend Mr Tully in the privacy of his cabin on the
Unicorn
.

‘I would conclude that you were sending me into a situation where I was in imminent danger of losing it,' Tully replied after a moment's reflection. ‘Assuming the object was still in my possession.'

Nathan nodded thoughtfully, having come to a similar conclusion. Over the several years of their association he had come to value Tully's opinion as much as he did his friendship, though a superficial knowledge of their backgrounds might consider it an unlikely alliance, for while Nathan was the off-spring of a British Admiral and an American heiress, Tully was the product of an illicit liaison between a Guernsey smuggler and the daughter of the local seigneur. Having been raised as a gentleman by his maternal grandfather, he had forsaken the advantages of this situation to follow in his father's calling. An unfortunate encounter with a Revenue cutter had obliged him
to abandon this for a career in the King's Navy, if only as an alternative to transportation. He had risen rapidly from able seaman to master's mate, however, and had recently passed his examination for lieutenant, his nautical abilities being matched only by his ease in conversing with men of all rank and situation. Though Nathan was aware of the iniquity of having favourites, Tully was the only officer with whom he felt able to converse as an equal – and on matters that were not solely concerned with the running of the ship.

Even so, there were certain aspects of the current mission which could not be confided even to Tully. Nathan had told him only what he had revealed to Mr Duncan and the other officers: that they were to proceed to the Adriatic with a view to halting the activities of the privateers operating out of Ancona, and that they were to call in at Naples on the way. He was considering now what else he might tell him without betraying any confidences when a knock upon the cabin door signalled the arrival of Dr McLeish, who had been invited to join them when his duties allowed.