Apart from our successes at sea, we have been able to do little to stop the spread of French progress and influence. In my view, Bonaparte has never changed from his original tack, which was and still must be to reach India and seize our trade routes. the French admiral, Suffren, almost succeeded during the last war." He saw Herrick's" eyes flicker towards him, no doubt remembering when they had sailed together in the East Indies, seeing for themselves the determination of their old enemy to regain ground lost in that uneasy peace. "Today Bonaparte must know that any delay in his preparations can only give us time to gain strength."

They all looked around as Inch exclaimed cheerfully. "We’ll show them, sir!" He grinned at the others. "Like we did before!"

Bolitho smiled. Glad that Inch, if ignorant of the facts, had not changed. Thankful that his excited comment had broken some of the distance between himself and the others. "Thank you, Commander Inch. Your optimism does you credit."

Inch bobbed and flushed with pleasure.

"However, we have no real intelligence of which way the French will move first. The bulk of our fleet is operating from. the Tagus, to keep a wedge between the French and their Spanish allies. But the enemy may attack Portugal because of our presence there, or indeed he may attempt to invade Ireland again." He could not conceal his bitterness. "As they intended when our own Navy was beset with misfortune which broke last year in the great mutinies at the Nore and Spithead."

Farquhar looked at his cuff. 'should have hanged a thousand of the devils, not a mere handful!"

Bolitho eyed him coldly. "Perhaps it a little more thought had been given to our sailors" wants in the first place, no punishment would have been needed at all!"

Farquhar smiled up at him. "I take the point, sir! Bolitho looked at his scattered papers, giving himself time.