“Don’t lift a finger about that,” said Bush. “Don’t say a word.”
“Aye aye, sir. Then if he brings the subject up I’m not to listen to him?”
“Well—” That might imply flinching away from duty. “It’s a matter for Buckland to deal with, if anyone.”
“Yes, sir. I could suggest something, sir.”
“And what’s that?” Bush did not know whether to be irritated or pleased that Hornblower had one more suggestion to make. But he doubted his own ability to bargain or negotiate; he knew himself to be lacking in chicane and dissimulation.
“If you made an agreement about the prisoners, sir, it would take some time to carry out. There’d be the question of the parole. I could argue about the wording of it. Then it would take some time to ferry the prisoners over. You could insist that only one boat was at the landing stage at a time—that’s an obvious precaution to take. It would give time for Renown to work up into the bay. She can anchor down there just out of range of the other battery, sir. Then the hole’ll be stopped, and at the same time we’ll still be in touch with the Dons so that Mr. Buckland can take charge of the negotiations if he wishes to.”
“There’s something in that notion,” said Bush. Certainly it would relieve him of responsibility, and it was pleasant to think of spinning out time until the Renown was back, ready to add her ponderous weight in the struggle.
“So you authorise me to negotiate for the return of the prisoners on parole, sir?” asked Hornblower.
“Yes,” said Bush, coming to a sudden decision. “But nothing else, mark you, Mr. Hornblower. Not if you value your commission.”
“Aye aye, sir. And a temporary suspension of hostilities while they are being handed over, sir?”