She gave him a conspiratorial smile. 'You Englishmen tell lies so gracefully. Still, you're forgiven and I'll act as lookout to save you turning round. How do they say it - Deck there, masthead here: Lord St Vincent is reading the letter . . . Ah, he waves to Lord Nelson, who walks over to join him . . . Lord Nelson reads the letter - and hands it back: it must be a short one . . . They talk together, both frowning. Bad news? The poor lieutenant - ah, Lord St Vincent waves him away. They keep looking over their shoulders - making sure no one can overhear, I suppose. Lord Nelson may have only one arm, but he waves it about a lot!'

She paused and clapped politely as the orchestra stopped and, almost without pause, swept on to the next tune. As the dancers resumed, Ramage noticed that Gianna had suddenly tensed. 'What's the matter?' he said in alarm.

She made a placatory gesture with her fan. 'It's nothing. Lord Nelson waved, as though referring to someone over here, and now Lord St Vincent is quizzing everyone. He looks so stern!'

Ramage shrugged. 'Half the King's ministers are here tonight . . . Perhaps they've just received a dispatch saying that Boney's coming!'

Gianna shivered. 'Don't make jokes about it!' She began reading the card that she had taken from her tiny handbag. 'Ah, for the next dance my partner -'

But Ramage was not listening; instead he turned again and watched as the First Lord spoke abruptly to a tall and elegant young post captain, who then began walking round the edge of the ballroom after a quick glance in Ramage's direction. He took a short cut across the corner of the floor, where there were few dancers, and Ramage saw that both Lord Nelson and Lord St Vincent had deliberately drawn apart from their group and were waiting impatiently.

Perhaps this was a common occurrence at a great ball attended by more than half the Cabinet: the sudden arrival of an urgent dispatch requiring some equally urgent decision and action. He turned back to Gianna and envied whoever was being summoned to the First Lord's presence; it might spoil the rest of the ball for the fortunate man and make him unpopular with his partner, but it would mean employment. At sea with a good ship and orders for detached service.

'I'm a dull fellow at a ball,' he said apologetically to Gianna. She was not listening but staring up at someone. He glanced up too and was startled to find the post captain looking down at him.

The man bowed gracefully to Gianna and after a perfunctory 'By your leave, Ma'am,' said to Ramage: 'Lord St Vincent wishes to speak to you for a few minutes: his Lordship told me to remain with the Marchesa.'

'Most necessary, sir,' Ramage said, nettled by the man's disdainful manner, 'it says on the map, "Here be lions,"' He turned to Gianna, childishly gratified by the puzzled look on the captain's face. 'If you'll excuse me - I'll hurry back.'

Gianna smiled politely but she said firmly: 'No ship. Not for another eleven days, anyway. You tell him.'

Lord St Vincent had not changed in the two years since Ramage had last seen him: he was still the ramrod-stiff figure with a bowed head who spoke as crisply and as frankly as he wrote.

'Ah, Ramage, 'fraid I have to interrupt your social life for a few minutes. Pity the King isn't here tonight; intended to present you. His Majesty likes to meet the young officers he reads about in the Gazette. Still, there'll be another opportunity - as long as you don't blot your copybook, eh?' His Lordship gave a wintry smile. 'You understand me, eh?'

'Aye, aye, sir,' Ramage said, and realized the First Lord had a better memory than he had thought.

'Mr Ramage!' the First Lord said sharply, raising his voice above the orchestra, which had reached an exuberant passage, 'that's a very knowing smile you've rigged across your face. I've read all the correspondence concerning your recent actions. You're a brave and resourceful fellow, but make no mistake; I know you'd sooner disregard orders than obey 'em. Once in a thousand times that's justified - perhaps once in a lifetime. You've done it half a dozen times already. Remember that - and remember that the Navy List is full of brave and resourceful young officers.'

Only a fool would disregard the warning note in what was, for Lord Vincent, a long speech. 'Aye aye, sir,' Ramage said, hoping those three normally safe words would not get him into more trouble.

'My compliments and apologies to the Marchesa,' St Vincent said gruffly. 'Looks as beautiful as ever. Going to marry her?'

The First Lord was famous for his often stated view that the moment he married an officer was lost to the Navy, and Ramage was thankful he could answer honestly: 'It's never been discussed, sir.'

Lord St Vincent snorted and said suddenly: 'Just remembered something his Majesty mentioned. He noticed that they don't use your title in the Gazette.'

Ramage was not sure if it was a statement or a question, but Lord Nelson, who had been standing quietly in the background, moved closer and nodded a greeting as he said: 'I think it goes back to the Lieutenant's early days in the Navy, sir. Makes a pretty problem for a hostess seating her guests - does Lieutenant Lord Ramage take precedence over Rear Admiral Sir John Smith ...’

St Vincent nodded understandingly. 'Well, Ramage, hurry up and get your flag and stop being a problem for the ladies, eh? Now, let's find some privacy in the Duke's library.'

With that he turned abruptly and with Lord Nelson walked towards a corridor leading from the ballroom. A puzzled Ramage was just going to rejoin Gianna when he saw St Vincent glance round and beckon him impatiently. 'I'm sure His Majesty would be grateful if he knew you could spare his First Lord of the Admiralty a few minutes of your valuable time, Ramage,' he growled, 'and I'm equally sure that the Marchesa will be flattered that a couple o' hundred fellow guests saw you leave the ballroom in the company of one of the King's ministers and one of his most famous fighting admirals.'

'Quite so, sir; I - er ... didn't...'

'Step lively and don't talk so much.'

The library was a book-lined cavern, and Lord St Vincent went straight to a table and sat down, gesturing to Lord Nelson and Ramage to be seated opposite.

Lord Nelson looked across at Lord St Vincent. "There's no doubt about this report, sir?'

'None. Wish there was.'

'But I don't trust these French agents,' Nelson said querulously. 'No patriotism; they're doing it for money.'

Ramage wished he had heard the earlier part of the conversation, and was just reflecting that the question of allegiance depended upon whom you regarded as your leader, when the First Lord said: 'This man is Scots born. Lived most of his life in France. Our best agent, I'm told.'

'Apparently the Secretary of State has heard nothing,' Nelson said doubtfully. 'I'd have expected -'

'Lord Hawkesbury will have received the report half an hour ago,' the First Lord said impatiently. 'This man's an Admiralty agent: reports directly to us, and we send copies across to the Secretary of State.'

'That can't make him popular in Downing Street,' Nelson commented. ‘The Secretary of State's office like to deal with all intelligence activities.'

'Quite so,' St Vincent said acidly, 'but they didn't have any choice with this fellow: he's highly placed in Bonaparte's circle, so his life hangs by a thread.' He looked up and saw Nelson's puzzled expression. 'He's the son of a former naval officer, and his reports reach England by -well, unusual seafaring routes. More convenient if the Admiralty handles them.'

Nelson reached out his hand. 'Perhaps I could read the report again?'

At that moment there was a double knock on the door and a man Ramage recognized as Lord Hawkesbury walked in.

'Ah! There you are,' he said, sitting down at the table. He glanced at Ramage, gave him a perfunctory nod and then said pointedly to the First Lord: 'I want to discuss this report we have just received.'