'And you think otherwise?'

'Captain, I know otherwise.' The vehemence in her tone was a warning of something to follow. Drinkwater struggled to clear his tired brain.

'I can think of nowhere better than a more remote island such as you have mentioned if the late Emperor is to maintain some dignity. Otherwise I imagine it is not beyond the wit of your new Bourbon master to find an oubliette for him.'

'But Captain Drinkwater, do you think he will remain long on an island? Have not your English newspapers been saying otherwise?'

'He will be guarded by a navy whom he has compelled to master the techniques of blockade duty. I think your Emperor would find it very hard to escape ...'

'What will your navy employ, Captain,' she broke in, the wine reviving her spirits as she warmed to her argument, 'a brace of frigates?'

The sarcasm in her tone as she guyed the English sporting term was clear. There was a sparkle in the green eyes that suddenly lit her face with the animated and terrible beauty he both admired and feared.

Drinkwater shrugged. 'Peut-être...'

'Perhaps,'

Hortense Santhonax scoffed, 'do you think you can cage an eagle, Captain? Come, my friend, you have more imagination than that!'

'Then, Madame,' Drinkwater snapped back, 'speak plainly. You have not come to warn me in so circumlocutory a style without there being something you wish for ...'

The remark seemed to deflate her. Her shoulders sagged visibly as though the weight they bore was unsupportable. She raised the glass and drained it. 'You are right. I have need of your help ... There, I acknowledge it!'

Drinkwater leaned over and refilled both their glasses. 'Hortense,' he said in a low voice, 'much has lain between us in the past. We have been enemies for so long, yet you can feel easy addressing me as friend.