Drinkwater regarded this information with some cynicism. He held no brief for the India monopoly, but he acknowledged the influence of those who did. Ballantyne seemed to sense some of this indifference.

'Consider, sir,' he said, 'what the alliance between the Dutch and French has already achieved: the Sunda Strait is closed to our ships and it has been necessary to convoy the trade through the Strait of Malacca. I do not think you can be aware of the numbers of French cruisers, both privateers and men-o'-war frigates, that the French have operating out of the Mauritius. One, the Piemontaise, a National ship, was taken by the San Fiorenzo off Cape Comorin, but at appalling cost, and that is our only success! That damned rogue Surcouf plundered our shipping right off the Sand Heads with complete impunity ...'

'The Sand Heads ... ?' queried Drinkwater, aware of his ignorance and the apparent hornet's nest that he was blundering into.

'Aye, off the entrance to the Calcutta river, Captain, plumb under the noses of the Hooghly merchants and Admiral Pellew himself!' Ballantyne's tone was incredulous.

'Pellew cannot have liked that,' observed Drinkwater drily, 'he used to enjoy the boot being on the other foot.'

'You know him then?' asked Ballantyne.

'A long time ago, when he commanded the Indefatigable. But this does not explain your reluctance to allow me to take you to Macao. You must understand that now I have learned of a British flag-officer in the area it is my plain duty to report to him.'

'By all means do so, sir, but after you have towed me into the Pearl River. It will delay you perhaps a day, two at the most.'

You have a reluctance to go to Macao, Captain Ballantyne? A commercial one, perhaps?'