Read Online Honour Be Damned by David Donachie - Free Book Online

going on.’
    ‘I don’t follow.’
    ‘Yes you do,’ said Markham, with some asperity. ‘You knew Aramon was coming, knew he had a proposal, and for all I can tell, were well aware of the nature of it before he set foot in your cabin.’
    There was a slight smile playing on the corners of Germain’s lips. ‘Now it’s me that you make sound devious and self serving.’
    ‘Are you?’
    ‘I admit to a hint of deviousness. But my aim is to serve my king and country, rather than myself.’ He began pacing again, somewhat faster than before, forcing Markham to follow suit. ‘You are right, of course. Aramon approached me ashore. I admit that he came out here quicker than I supposed, though I ought to have guessed, him being an ardent sort. Still …’
    Markham cut across him, ignoring the convention that stated he should remain silent while a superior officer was speaking.
    ‘He needs de Puy for whatever it is he has planned. The Colonel wants his men. It is your job to persuade him that my Lobsters can do a better job than his own soldiers.’
    Germain was looking at him quizzically, not sure whether to be pleased or angry. ‘I shall have to watch you, Markham. I had you down as game, and I reckoned you sharp-witted. But not quite the stropped razor, if you get my drift.’
    ‘Which one ofthe two induced you to ask for me personally?’
    Germain turned away abruptly at that, leaving his marine lieutenant to speculate that it was probably neither.
    ‘I have a job to do, orders to obey. It just so happens that Aramon’s proposition accords with those. There is nothing to say that I can’t land shore parties, in fact I could well be damned ifI don’t. You heard what he said. That which he seeks is not far inland, though he keeps the actual location close.’
    ‘It would be better to know what it is, don’t you think?’
    ‘He won’t say.’
    Germain had responded ruefully, before dropping his voice to a near whisper that became more eager the more he spoke. He seemed totally unaware that by saying that he’d admitted to prior knowledge.
    ‘But he keeps harping on about the value. I reckon it to be some kind of treasure. He was at Avignon before fleeing to save his neck, a small detail that I did wheedle out of him. That was a papal palace once, rich as Croesus, even by a Papist yardstick. You know these places, stuffed to the lintels with precious articles. Gawd, even the everyday plate they use can be worth a mint.’
    ‘So you intend to put me ashore to find and gift to Aramon the possessions which he deems so extremely valuable, before transporting him to where he wants to go. That seems a rather commercial approach to duty, sir.’
    ‘Find and take possession of, Markham! And if it is legitimate booty we will do so on behalf of the King of England. We might well find ourselves handing both Aramon and his treasure over to Lord Hood to decide what happens next. That will earn us both a feather for our caps. And perhaps, if what we find is big enough, a reward somewhat greater than that hinted at by the priest.’
    Markham had the feeling that it mattered little what Aramon recovered. Germain would take it to Hood anyway, less concerned by the value than by the proof it would provide of his diligence. There might be advantage for him there too, a chance to produce that stroke that Nelson alluded to, one that might allow him to request a favour from Hood; that if he was promoted, he could take his men with him.
    ‘So we are going to steal it?’ he said, wickedly.
    ‘Good God, no!’ exclaimed Germain. ‘I will not indulge in theft. It grieves me that you think of me in those terms, Markham. I certainly have a higher regard for you.’
    ‘You mustn’t go supposing the notion of theft bothers me, sir. Relieving that stuck up bastard of his possessions will make both my Lobsters, as well as the officer who leads them, very happy.’

    Aramon had consumed half the contents of the wine flask by the time