August 3, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog
Lieutenant De la Cruz brought Tudor all the way back to the Watch Dog, first by carriage, then on foot and finally by boat. He had made no attempt to learn anything more about Captain Brand or the crew of the frigate, content to walk with Miss Smith with some limited conversation. When she was back aboard, Roldán made a gracious departure, thanking her for the evening.
Tudor had little time to ponder on the events of the night. She was left at the rail alone for only a moment before Jacob Badger met her there and explained that Captain den Oven was loose upon the world, he having learned of this by way of a message from the Lucy. Of course, Tudor was not pleased to hear this news, and it marred the evening, but she and Jacob talked about the fugitive Captain at length and orders were passed about to the remaining marines aboard to be ever watchful in their duties.
Despite what came before and what would come in the near future elsewhere on the island, the routine aboard the Watch Dog was quiet.
Aboard the Navarra
When Lieutenant Roldán De la Cruz arrived again aboard the Navarra, he went at once to the great cabin where he found Capitán Avendano in the company of the Ship's Doctor, Ettore Tarín. The two men were deeply entrenched in ledgers, charts and other documents laid out before them. Captain Avendano managed a cursory glance and a minute gesture of the hand before returning to the discussion at hand. It seemed that the two men were embroiled in a disagreement regarding the sale of a portion of the Navarra's goods. Ettore Tarín was of the opinion that almost a full third of the goods should be sold at Martinique to recoup their recent losses. Captain Avendano was adamant that all of the ships merchandise should be taken to Trinidad, where the goods would fetch a better price. Ettore Tarín turned this argument upon the Captain, stating that his own calculations showed that the standard currencies of France and Spain were at a premium on Martinique, and that the 'better price' would be obtained here.
The Lieutenant listened quietly to the arguments of both men, noting that each had his point, but that neither man was truly considering the larger picture. When both men had argued their sides until red-faced, they turned to Roldán.
"What think you, Lieutenant?" The Captain asked, expecting his man to side with him at once.
"I recommend a most beneficial compromise suggested by both you and the Doctor." They exchanged a haughty look with one another before returning their attention to the Lieutenant.
"Go on."
"The Doctor suggests that we sell one third of our goods to the French at a premium. While I agree that Spanish coin is worth more on Martinique than in Spain, I disagree that we should sell a third." Captain Avendano fixed Doctor Tarín with a smile of superiority and waited for the Lieutenant to continue. "Captain, I think we should sell half of the goods now."
Captain Avendano's expression soured a little. "Why?"
"In addition to fetching a premium in coin, we might also consider trading the goods for half their weight in sugar. In this way we can negotiate an even higher dividend through a trade of goods alone, decrease the weight in the holds by a fourth, and sell the sugar for a greatly enlarged price at Trinidad. We thus benefit ourselves through a displacement of weight and the twice reaping of profit."
The Captain and Doctor exchanged a look that was many things at once. Their appreciation for the Lieutenant's ideas not withstanding, there was also an undercurrent of mistrust for one so young who was capable of such calculation. It might have also been jealosy, but with a mixture of satisfaction and trepidation, they agreed that the Lieutenant's plan had married both of their opinions well and improved upon them both.
Elsewhere in St. Louis
Dorian and William did not enjoy the short carriage ride which brought them through unknown neighborhoods of St. Louis with the two French officers. The hour, while not very late, was very dark, and the streets they travelled did not enjoy many lamps. Also, the company was unpleasant, for Lieutenant Turcotte used up the Lion's share of the conversation, spouting off endless presumptions about the shooting on the bay and the escape of den Oven. William agreed continuously and even spurred him on at times with the practiced tact of one who has known politicians, career soldiers and unremitting liars. Dorian only made interchanges which fueled Turcotte's desire to employ Durand, enjoying how they fired the Lieutenant's imagination and the distinct shade of green which crept across the face of Charron.
After what seemed like an hour played out in a quarter-hour, they arrived at a modest looking home which served as a coffee house and a sometimes brothel. They were greeted at the door by a man named Jules Pommier who was so round that the definitions of his neck and legs were only made apparent when he moved. He seemed to loll in lazy arcs rather than walk, and his face was a ruddy, almost piggy mass of flesh that wobbled. Monieur Pommier attempted some humor in vain almost at once, but he gibbered more than laughed, and the sound was most unpleasant. They were saved from too much conversation with him, for the Lieutenant was abrupt and cut the man off in his greetings.
"Where is Monsieur Durand?"
"I...cannot say for certain, Monsieur. He may..." the man began, but Turcotte pushed past him, despite the proprietor's protests.
The Lieutenant rushed through the main rooms of the ground floor and up a flight of stairs to a short hallway on the second floor. Charron would have halted the Lieutenant in his haste, but the awkward decorum of allowing the two Captains to go before him prevented this, and since no one else was there to halt Turcotte's momentum, he was able to burst upon Durand with only the merest of knocks. In truth, he barely let his knuckles fall upon the door before he threw his shoulder into it. The door, while locked, was poorly fitted and the jam gave way just enough that the latch made an unpleasant popping sound as it went. The door swung wide and thumped upon the wall and the Lieutenant strode to the center of the room in three long strides. William and Dorian followed at an even gait, but made no attempt to move further than the threshold. Charron arrived on their heels and halted in the hallway.
Donatien Durand, known to some as L'ours and to others as L'homme secret de Paris, looked up from where he lay. The room was of two parts, with most of the room on one level, with the area containing the bed on a slightly raised platform against the wall opposite the door. Durand lay there in a tangle of arms and legs belonging not to one woman, but two. They were engaged in what can only be described as an enthusiastic "household of three", entwined together in an act not meant for public viewing. The intimate threesome reacted in three altogether different ways, with one woman crying out in surprise, one woman covering herself in shocked silence and one very angry but quiet Bear.
Turcotte looked pleased as punch at this opportunity to interrupt Durand in the very same way in which Durand had interrupted him, forgetting the dangerous man's warnings from before. Dorian wore a smile that said many things, and while it most certainly had something to do with the embarrassment of the situation, most of it was in regards to what Durand might do to Turcotte next. William, who had witnessed scenes of various embarrassment, first hand and by accident, took the scene in stride, wearing the face of the calm outsider. Only Charron looked ill.
After the one woman's initial scream, there followed a long silence. So pronounced was it, that music could be heard from a neighboring establishment. Durand, whose face had been angry in an instant, now looked calm in a way that was angry to be sure, but more like murderous intent. He did not move at first. He simply lay where he was. Then after a moment's pause he lifted himself up to his knees and stepped from the bed very slowly. He was completely naked, as were his companions, but he if he cared about this, he didn't show it. He crossed the floor with as much dignity, bearing and solemnity as a man might cross over a kirkyard. He walked right up to Turcotte until he stood in the man's face. "Come for me again to do thy bidding, whelp?"
"I have an errand whi..." Turcotte began, but Durand seized him by the throat, cutting off his breath and words. He did this with one monstrous hand and Turcotte went for his blade in an act that was born of pure instinct. As he drew the weapon, Durand assisted him, propelling it out of the scabbard and away with such force that it clattered across the floor, disappearing under a table. Tucrotte would have struck the man then, but Durand propelled him away and Dorian and William were both obliged to step to the side as Turcotte crashed against the already open door.
One of the women took this opportunity to flee the room half covered, while the other remained in wide-eyed silence. Durand glared at Turcotte, who tried and failed to find his voice. He clutched his bruised throat and choked. Durand then fixed Dorian and William with an unpleasant expression that dared them to speak. William obliged him. "My apologies, Sah. I had no reason to believe that Lieutenant Turcotte would enter your room unannounced and unbid."
Durand's expression, did not alter at this. He turned a threatening finger on Turcotte, who had recovered himself a little. "Speak not. I'll have your tongue at a word." he growled.
"We have come on an errand of utmost urgency." William continued. Durand faced him again. "An enemy of France has escaped the Fort Royal Prison."
This seemed to capture enough of Durand's interest that his expression softened. It did not become pleasant, but his eyes showed some spark of civility, at least towards Captain Brand. "Go on."
William made no attempt to create a deep or compelling narration of the events which had lead them there. His explanation was brief and to the point, touching on only the most important facts of the moment. He spoke for only a few moments and Durand listened the whole while, standing as they had found him, naked but for his bearing. There followed a few short questions with equally short answers.
During this interchange, Durand began to dress, though he seemed to do this as an afterthought. William noted that the man had some pronounced scars upon him which where old enough to be almost lost against his skin. A few of these were vicious looking marks which suggested near mortal wounds. Many of them were small, but the size angle and placement of them did not render them dismissible, for most of them were scars from stab wounds.
William reached the point in his explanation where he suggested that the shooting on the bay might be tied to den Oven. Durand looked at William then and searched his face for something hidden, for Durand was not foolish enough to believe that den Oven's escape and the previous day's shooting had anything to do with each other. Durand even smiled a little, though Turcotte misinterpreted it. "We believe that the two incidents may be connected." William finished.
"Indeed." Durand returned, and it was all that he said for several minutes.
Four bells of the First Watch
Larboard Watches on Duty
