“I have not seen or heard of it from that day to this.”
Hodge gave vent to a prolonged whistle.
“This is a serious matter,” he said. “But perhaps Carmichael will fetch it down with him.”
“I hope and trust so,” was the reply. “Sure, I don’t care any more for the yard-arm than you do for the Bastile.”
Conyngham was worried and slept little that night, still he reasoned that it was more than probable that the commission would be forthcoming in the morning, and also that he would be relieved, from all secrecy as to its possession. He saw that it had worked wonders, and that slowly but surely France and England were verging toward war; that before many months should pass America would have a powerful ally. Of course, in view of these circumstances, France could not have given the mortal offense of surrendering a regularly commissioned officer into the hands of what soon was to be a common enemy.
The next day Carmichael arrived. He was a tall, spare man, with a hawked nose; a broad, good-natured grin was usually on his lips, but he was keen as a whip-lash.
It was the morning of the 15th of July, and in the cabin of the Revenge Mr. Carmichael sat opposite Captain Conyngham, who watched him with a smile of dry amusement as he wrote. Carmichael was smiling also. He had a trick of apparently spelling the letters he was writing with his tongue wriggling at the corner of his mouth. As soon as he had finished he turned, and waving the paper in the air to dry it, chuckled.
“There, Captain Conyngham, are your sailing orders. Of course, to a man of your intelligence, there is no use of being more than explicit. Somehow I am reminded of a story of one of your fellow countrymen who was accused of killing a sheep, and in explanation made the plea that he would kill any sheep that attacked and bit him on the open highway. So all you’ve got to do is to be sure that the sheep bites first.”
“There is another little adage about a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” replied Conyngham laughing, “and sure, there are plenty of them in both channels, and in that case——”
“Be sure to kill the wolf before he bites you at all. But seriously—once away from the French coast, you ought to have a free foot. Do not send any prizes into French ports. Here is a list of the agents of Lazzonere and Company, Spanish merchants, and here is a draft of a thousand livre upon them at Corunna. Should you desire more, accounting will be kept with Hortalez and Company that will be audited by the commissioners and by Grand, the banker, of Paris. You will receive the usual percentage accruing to the captain of a vessel making such captures, and will keep a separate account of your expenditures and moneys received and the value of prizes.”