Kerguelen moved closer and lowered his voice. "All except the original packetsmen. You've noticed they're not on deck?" When Ramage nodded, the Frenchman said, "Keep your eye on them, my friend; I saw more than you give me credit for when we captured this ship..."

With that he went down to his cabin, saying he had to get ready to return to Chamberlain's house to collect the money.

Ramage saw Yorke, Bowen and Much watching him.

"Haven't seen you look so happy for months," Yorke said.

"Wouldn't you?" Bowen exclaimed. "She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!"

"All of that," Much said. "Acts like a real queen," he added. "Is it true she's a queen, sir?"

"Not exactly," Ramage said. "She's the ruler of Volterra - that's a small state in Italy. Or she was, until the French invaded. She escaped just in time."

"Southwick was telling us about that," Bowen said. "You had a romantic meeting!"

"She was pointing a pistol at him," Yorke commented for Much's benefit, remembering Ramage's reference a few days earlier.

"Nothing would frighten that lass," Much said emphatically.

She finally left the group of Tritons. "Ah, it's like old times! I hope we have some excitement on the way back!"

"Let me show you your cabin," Ramage said hurriedly. "Oh, leave the trunk to the French fellows, Jackson; they hoisted it up and I think they'd like to finish the job!"

Gianna's arrival made the Lady Arabella's last few hours in Lisbon a bizarre and festive occasion. It began with Yorke's suggestion that they invite Kerguelen to dinner, whereupon Gianna demanded that Rossi be allowed to help her prepare the meal. While the two of them were busy in the galley, Kerguelen returned from his visit to Chamberlain, but his privateersmen seemed far more interested in the barrels he brought with him than the canvas bag which obviously held the money. The Frenchman explained that he had brought some wine for his men to celebrate with, and a case of champagne as a present for Ramage.

By midnight, when the Arabella was officially handed over, former Tritons and privateersmen were toasting each other with mugs of wine and singing raucous songs on the foredeck while Ramage and Kerguelen toasted each other with champagne on the quarterdeck, watched by Gianna, Yorke, Southwick, Bowen, Wilson and Much.

"A speech, a speech!" Wilson insisted drunkenly. "Got to have a speech!"

"Let's hear the Marchesa," Yorke said enthusiastically. "I'm so tipsy I can see three of her, an' I don't know which one's the loveliest!"

Kerguelen took out his watch and held it close to the lantern. "Two minutes past midnight," he said solemnly, "and the Lady Arabella begins a new life. What more appropriate than a few words from you, Mademoiselle?"

Gianna nodded and put her glass on the binnacle. "Yes, I will make a speech. The last time I saw a Frenchman, he shot me in the shoulder. I had hoped never to see another one until long after this hateful war ends. But I was curious to meet the Frenchman that Nicholas respected, and pleased to find when I met him that he respected Nicholas. I shall pray," she lowered her voice and spoke slowly, so that they should not miss the significance of what she was saying, "that you will never meet again until after the war is over..."

Then she looked round and said gaily, "But I am jealous of all you men: you have had Nicholas's company for so long, while I have been waiting for him in England."

"You haven't missed anything, ma'am," Southwick said unexpectedly. "Very snappish he's been most of the time, an' all because he missed you."

"Well spoken," Yorke said. "I wasn't going to say anything, but..."

At that moment they heard the bells of Lisbon's churches as they struck midnight. Kerguelen took out his watch and looked at it ruefully. "Well, now I can afford to buy a new one!" He stood still for a moment, his stance indicating a change of mood. "Everything is yours, Lieutenant," he said softly. "Will you all wait a moment?" With that he went below.

Yorke glanced at Ramage, who shrugged his shoulders. There was little Kerguelen could do: most of his men were drunk on the foredeck. The Frenchman returned in a minute or two with three swords under his arm. "A ceremony," he said, glancing round to make sure Southwick and Captain Wilson were present.

"Lieutenant Ramage - it gives me great pleasure to return your sword!"

With a flourish he extracted Ramage's and presented it to him. "Mr Southwick - I believe this is yours. And Captain Wilson..."

It was a gracious gesture, and Ramage felt he ought to say something.

"On behalf of your former prisoners, Captain, I want to thank you for being such an amiable captor, and..." Ramage broke off: Kerguelen knew what he was trying to say, and the two men shook hands.

By dawn, with the last of the privateersmen taken on shore, the Arabella's boat was hoisted up and Ramage, having moved into the captain's cabin, sent for Much and Southwick to discuss the merits of the various packetsmen before Southwick drew up a quarters, watch and station bill. Ramage's first surprise was Much's warning that no trust should be put in his own son, Our Ned.

"No father would like to admit it," the Mate said apologetically, "but though Our Ned's a smart seaman he's a bad lad. I'm going to warn him, Mr Ramage, just as soon as you give me the word; but he's not to be trusted, no more than the Bosun, nor any of the Arabella's men!"

Ramage stared at him. "Any of them?"

"Mebbe one or two, but ignore 'em. Best rely on the Navy men. Your own men."

"But I can't keep the packetsmen prisoners!"

"No, but if 'twas me, I'd make sure each Navy man was told to keep an eye on a particular packetsman. Just in case."

Ramage felt his elation at the prospect of commanding the Lady Arabella slowly vanishing like sugar dissolving in warm water. Would anything in his life ever be straightforward? With Stevens out of the way and the packet back in British hands was it asking too much that the voyage home would be free of complications?

"As bad as that, Mr Much?" he asked.

"As bad as that, Mr Ramage."

"Will you work with Southwick to draw up a new quarters, watch and station bill?"

The Mate nodded. "What about your men, sir?"

"Jackson could have been rated Bosun, but that'd cause more trouble with the present one. For the rest - my men are all steady and handpicked: I've taken them into action several times."

The answer seemed to satisfy Much, who said, "What is my position now, sir?"

"Well, now the Lady Arabella is a King's ship - or she will be within the hour - I shall be in command, Mr Southwick the Master, and Bowen the Surgeon. You, Mr Yorke and Captain Wilson will be passengers - along with the Marchesa, of course - but I'd appreciate any help you can give. The packetsmen will be mustered as part of the ship's company: their Protections are withdrawn."

After Much and Southwick left to draw up the watch bill, Ramage relaxed for a few minutes to finish a cup of lukewarm coffee. Well, the packet was almost ready to sail. Kerguelen had kept his men busy during the last few days filling water casks, and according to Much there were enough provisions. Damn, there was the rot in the transom to be examined. As soon as Southwick and Much had finished their present task, they could survey it and draw up a detailed report. It wouldn't affect the Arabella leaving Lisbon as soon as possible; but it might be important later, since the Admiralty was taking over the ship.

Was taking over? Had taken over at midnight, to be exact, and it was high time he read himself in: at the moment he had no legal authority in the ship, and although Southwick and Much would not appreciate being interrupted while doing the watch bill, it was high time he completed that formality.