by Griff Hosker
It was dark as we left the tavern to make our way down the alleys back to the river. Rich people hired men with torches to light their way along the streets but we only had two alleys to negotiate and they were not long. When we emerged from one into the next, dimly lit street, the men who had followed us earlier in the day appeared. They each had a cudgel in their hands and one man had a short knife.
I curse the fact that I had left my sword on the ship and all I had was the stiletto in my boot. I knew that the captain had his knife but we were outnumbered.
Captain Dinsdale seemed calm, “Now then lads we want no bother.”
The leader who had an ugly scar running from his cheek to his eye spat a gob of phlegm at my feet and said, “Don’t worry old man. This will be no bother. We’ll just teach the two of you a lesson in manners and then you can return the ledger to its rightful owner eh?”
I was not going to wait to be attacked and so I stamped forward with the heel of my boot and struck the leader on the kneecap. I heard a crack and he fell screaming to the ground. I sensed someone coming at my left and I put my left arm up in defence and wheeled to face a short man with a cudgel. As the weapon came down I rolled away and used my left arm to slow down the weapon. His momentum and my swing made us crash to the ground on top of the injured leader who screamed as the combined weight of the two of us smashed into his shattered knee. I kept my roll going and as I did so I slid my hand down and grabbed my stiletto. I slashed across the back of the man’s hand and ripped through his flesh. He screamed, dropped the cudgel and grabbed his injured hand. I punched him hard in the solar plexus and he doubled up. Before I could do anything else to him something crashed into my back and I fell on top of the injured leader once more. I rolled to the side and saw the look of triumph on the face of another thug with a cudgel.
“This is going to crush your head to a pulp!”
He began to swing it and then suddenly it stopped in mid air. He looked up in surprise, as I did then Geordie spun him round and said, “Fight fair!” before punching him hard in the face. He fell unconscious behind me. All four of the attackers were now either unconscious or incapacitated.
Captain Dinsdale wiped his knife on the jacket of the man who was holding his bleeding face. “Now you tell Mr Lambert that we are less than happy with his behaviour and he should find somewhere else to ply his trade!”
We left the four of them and headed back to our ships. “Thanks Geordie. That was good timing.”
“You could have handled them. I only took a hand because I could see it was ending. I tell you what young fella, you can handle yourself. You’ll be alright.”
At the river he went upstream and we went downstream. Captain Dinsdale said, “I told you we should have sorted that Lambert out. He is a bad ‘un through and through.” He looked up at the gangplank of ‘The Witch’ and nodded. Jennings stood there with a pistol in his belt and a marlin spike in his hand. “I’m glad they took precautions; that Lambert is more desperate than I thought.”
We sat in the captain’s cabin sipping some rum we had bought from the captain of a ship just docked from the West Indies. The captains all helped each other by selling special goods to each other before the customs had taken their share. “Tomorrow we will make some arrangements so that I can contact you when you return.” He drank some of the potent brew. “Have you any thoughts about your future?”
“You mean after Scotland?” He nodded. “Not really.”
“If you are still interested in buying a share in a ship then that would be a fine and profitable occupation.”
“I am still interested in providing funds for your venture captain and tomorrow, when we return to the bank I will put that in place but I could not work in an office. I crave action. I never thought I would miss the Bonaparte adventures I enjoyed but I do.”
“I can understand that. You are a young and active man. Still, you will always have something to fall back on after a life of adventure eh?”
Just then we heard a cry and a commotion on the quayside. I grabbed my sword and followed the captain on deck. We saw, on the quayside, Jennings grappling with one man while two of the crew restrained another. We saw a third running off towards the Strand. By the time we had reached the quayside Jennings had subdued his man. He looked up and grinned. “I nipped down for a mug of cocoa and when I came up I saw these with a lantern. I think they were going to fire the ship.” He pointed to the marlin spike. “I am still accurate with one of those.”
“Well done Jennings.” The captain turned the man over with his sea boot. “Who sent you?”
“We done nothing! We were just walking along the quay minding our own business and this big bastard…” the captain kicked him hard in the ribs and he screamed. “Well he just hurled a marlin spike at us.”
The captain looked at me. “Do you believe him Captain Macgregor?”
“Not a word.” I took the stiletto from my boot and held it to his nose. “You know what I think? I think that our friend Mr Lambert sent these three to make sure we spoke to no one.”
The man looked terrified, “No please! We were just walking down the quay.”
I turned to the captain. “In Egypt they have some interesting punishments. If you steal they cut off your hand. If you molest a woman they castrate you.” I saw the man’s eyes widen in terror. “Now I think an appropriate punishment for lying would be to split this man’s nose and then everyone would know that he was a liar.” I pressed the tip of the knife into the end of his nose and a tendril of blood dripped on to his lips.”
“No please! I’ll talk. It was Mr Lambert as sent us.”
“That’s better but where did he get the money to pay you? He said he had none.” The man remained silent. I slid the tip to his eye.
“He was lying. He has a crib where he keeps his money.”
“Where is it?”
“At the back of his office. There’s a door behind the desk.”
“Well captain what should we do with these men?”
The captain grinned. “I have an idea. Second Mate, bring them along.” He led us to the steps which led down to the river. There was an old leaky skiff there. “Put them both in there.” They were deposited in the bottom of the boat. “Now I never want to see you two again. I will spread the word amongst the other captains that you are both villains who set fire to ships. Is that clear?” They both nodded. “Right lads, push them into the river.” The tide was on the turn and they pushed the skiff so hard that it soon struck the current and they were taken towards the sea. I could see that one was bailing while the other was trying to paddle to shore.
“Do you think they can swim?”
“Probably not but they’ll make the shore. It’s just that they will have a long and weary walk back to the city. Well done Second Mate but have the lads keep a close watch tonight.
We set off the next day for Mr Lambert’s. We found the office door open and the room even more shambolic than we had last seen it. We discovered the cunningly hidden door and saw that the room had been stripped of anything of value. We went upstairs to his rooms and saw the signs of a hasty departure. “Well the bird has flown captain.”
Captain Dinsdale was not happy. “I hate leaving things unfinished. This will have to be settled when we return.”
We went to the bank to pick up the promissory note. The manager was a quiet little man called Mr Hudson. He was quietly efficient and had precise neat movements. He seemed obsessed by order. That pleased me for it meant he was organised. “Mr Hudson I have some money I would like to deposit.”
He looked over at Captain Dinsdale. “Is this a private matter sir?”
I smiled, “Captain Dinsdale is part of this but the account will be in my name.” He nodded satisfied and his sense of order was preserved. I stood. “If you will excuse me a moment I have to take off my jacket.” I could see that they were both intrigued. I took off my jacket and undid my shirt. I took off one of the two canvas belts. As I did so I
was aware of the smell. It had been about my body for some time. I saw Mr Hudson wrinkle his nose. “I apologise for the smell Mr Hudson but this is necessary I can assure you.” I took out my mother’s jewels: the rings and the necklaces. “I would like these to be kept safe.”
He took them and began to make an inventory. He looked up at me. “I will have to get them valued sir.”
“That is fine. I will only sell them if I have to.”
He rang a bell. A clerk appeared. “Would you take these to the main office and then go and ask Mr Levi from the jewellers next door to come and appraise them for us.” The clerk took them away and Mr Hudson continued, “He is discreet. He is also a client of mine.”
I took out the money. I handed over, first the ten gold Louis. I saw Mr Hudson nod his approval. I then took out the purse with the money I had collected over the years. I still had another which I used for current expenses. I gave them to him and the banker began to count them. As he did so Captain Dinsdale said, “A little risky having them about your person wasn’t it?”
“They shared the same risks as me.”
Mr Hudson briefly stopped counting and looked over his pince-nez. “A bank is more secure Mr Macgregor.”
“I know but where I have been there were no banks.”
“Then thank the lord that you are back in a civilised place. You have here gold and coins to the value of five thousand three hundred and seventy three pounds, fifteen shillings and six pence; a sizeable sum. What would you have us do with this?”
I did not answer him immediately, “Captain how much would you need for a ship?”
“With the money I have I think I would need a partner to invest two thousand pounds.”
I nodded, “Then Mr Hudson I would like to earn interest on this money but when Captain Dinsdale comes to you I would like you to release two thousand pounds for his use.”
They both looked at me. Mr Hudson coughed, “You, of course, will be present too?”
“No. I do not know where I will be. In addition I will ask Mr Fortnum to act for me in my absence. I will provide documents to enable him to do so and to absolve you of any responsibilities in that area.”
“Extraordinary.”
“Are you sure Robbie?”
“I told you before captain I have not made any plans for the future. This is an investment. I trust you and Jonas. When I am an old man, if I should live that long, then I hope to enjoy the fruits of your labours. Is that satisfactory Mr Hudson?”
“It is Captain Macgregor and I will have the papers drawn up for you.”
“It will need to be quick for I am to sail to Scotland tomorrow.”
“Ah off into the wilds again eh? You are an adventurer.”
His clerk returned as the papers were readied for me. “Mr Levi said they are fine pieces and would fetch six thousand pounds at today’s prices.”
“Thank you.” When the clerk had gone he wrote out all the figures and handed them to me. “You are comfortably off young man.”
“Thank you Mr Hudson.”
We headed to Fortnum and Mason’s. When I explained to Mr Fortnum what I intended he was taken aback. “But I barely know you. Why me?”
“You and the captain here will be business partners, you and Mr Hudson do business. It makes sense and besides I trust you.” I smiled, “If you are good enough for the Royal family then you are good enough for me. This way I can keep in touch with everyone from this fine emporium.”
As we made our way back to the ship I felt satisfied. For the first time in my life I had order and organisation. I could now begin the next part of my quest. Captain Dinsdale headed back to Naples with Lambert’s books and a letter from me explaining what I had done. In addition there was a contract from Mr Fortnum. I had fulfilled my promise to the family.
Chapter 17
The collier was even smaller than the ‘Witch’ had been. It was a tiny crew too. There were just ten men on board. They were, however, a friendly crew. After we had negotiated the busy Thames Estuary we headed into the North Sea and I was able to talk with Geordie.
“This isn’t like the sailing Captain Dinsdale has to do. We have no really violent storms and certainly no pirates. It’s easy. We just plod up to Newcastle, Sunderland or Hartlepool and pick up a ship load of coal and then take it back to London. It takes us between ten days and two weeks. The lads like it; they get to spend a couple of days at home. I bet most of the crew of the ‘Witch’ aren’t married.”
“I don’t know it never came up but you are probably right.”
“Aye I know. My lads are all either married or have a woman or two to keep their homes nice. There’s canny money in coal. Since the war started the price of coal has risen quite a lot. They are not short of a bob or two.”
I watched the flat Essex landscape drift away west and was grateful for the lack of big waves. This was gentler. It was not the azure blue of the Mediterranean more a slate grey but the motion of the sea was about the same. “Are you married, Geordie?”
“Aye. I have a bonny lass and three bairns at home. I have a lovely house overlooking the river and the sea at Tynemouth. You’ll have to come and see it.”
“I would like that.” Even as I said it I realised that I had never known a home life. The nearest had been those idyllic couple of days when I had stayed with the Alpini family. My childhood had not really been a home once my mother had died. I was looking forward to visiting a normal house and home in England.
“What are your plans then Robbie?”
“I’ll need to buy a horse and then make my way to Islay in Scotland. It’s where the Macgregors live. I have something to deliver.”
He looked concerned. “It isn’t as bad as it was but the border country is always a little dangerous. There are bandits up there.”
I took out my stiletto. “I took this from a bandit who attacked me and my comrades in Italy.”
He shook his head, “Aye I know but you weren’t alone there were you? Take care. Captain Dinsdale thinks highly of you.”
I was touched, “I will be careful.”
“And what after you have delivered your package?”
Everyone kept asking me that question and I had not thought it through. Perhaps my fate was to be in Scotland. I didn’t know. “Unless there is something for me in Scotland I will be returning to London. I know people there.”
“I dinna like London. Too big and too dirty and full of foreigners.”
“You know that I am French?”
“No you are not. You might have been born there but I have heard you talk and seen you fight. You’re an Englishman!”
“I have Scottish and French roots how do I become English?”
“You have all the right qualities. Don’t sell yourself short. Jocks are alright and certainly better than the Frogs but set your sights higher. Be an Englishman!”
This was the first time I had experienced the English disease, xenophobia. They meant no harm but they believed that the English were God’s chosen and could rule the world. I came to know that idea well over the next few years.
The voyage was pleasant and I was amazed at the changes in landscape. When we passed Hartlepool he pointed it out to me. “That is the River Tees and we sometimes call there but they are funny folk in Hartlepool. Nice enough folk but they mistrust strangers. They never leave their town you know? They are suspicious of everyone. Mind it suits me; I get all the business they shun.”
The next day we entered the Tyne. He pointed to the headland. “That up there is the Priory and the Castle. My house is just along the front. We’ll go there when we have unloaded. I know a man with some horses. I don’t want you robbed before you get to Scotland!”
It was a busy river and we tied up at Tyne dock. I could see huge mountains of the stuff Geordie called Black Gold. It certainly seemed to be the heart blood of the river. While they unloaded I carried my chest from the ship to the quay. There were many men who were waiting to unload the ship of it
s London cargo and soon the ship was empty. Leaving a skeleton crew on board Geordie and I carried my chest up the hill to the headland. It was little over a mile to the house and the steep slope showed me that I had become unfit during the recent sea voyage.
Geordie’s wife, Betty, was lovely. She was a buxom woman with grey streaks but she had a heart of gold. After giving her husband a warm welcome she embraced me as though I was a long lost brother. Geordie laughed, “She is proud of the house and is always asking me why I dinna bring guests home. You are the first!”
“And I am honoured.” Impulsively I took her hand gave a slight bow and kissed the back of her hand, “Enchantée, Madame!”
She giggled and said to Geordie, “That was lovely but what did he say?”
I smiled, “I just said I was enchanted to meet you. My mother taught me good manners.”
“Was that French?”
“It was. I was born in France.”
Her face suddenly filled with sympathy. “Eee, and they chopped all them poor people’s heads off too.”
“I know. My father was guillotined.”
Geordie looked surprised, “He was a noble then?”
“Yes he was Count de Breteuil.”
Betty curtsied. “I didn’t know you were a lord.”
“I am not. My father did not marry my mother.”
“Well count, lord or whatever you are welcome here and I get to use the guest bedroom at last. Geordie, take the young man’s chest to his room. You come in the parlour while I get some supper.”
The meal was home cooked and delicious and they made me feel like an honoured guest. Geordie’s children were three strapping lads who, once they found I had been a soldier, pestered me with questions. I didn’t mind; it was a way of remembering my dead comrades. After they had gone to bed the three of us talked. Betty was fascinated with the life of a noble in France and even more intrigued by my mother and her story. She was outraged by Mama Tusson and her evil ways. “I canna abide witches!”
I laughed, “Do you have witches here then?”
“No actual witches live close by; mind there’s a few who look like witches and give you the evil eye.”
