Kydd remained silent. The French could only have known this if his men had been interrogated.
‘Alors, eet is of no consequence. Do you know, Monsieur, zat you are famous? No? Then let me tell you, ze great General Napoleon Buonaparte ’imself knows of you. ’E wish to offer ’is condolences on your misfortune, but regrets ’e cannot receive you at zis moment. ’E is engaged on an important matter.’
Kydd said nothing. No doubt Buonaparte had heard of him – his capture would have been quickly reported by the triumphant officer in charge, but whether the general had any real interest in him he very much doubted.
‘Ze general wonders if you can be of service to ’im. ’E would be much oblige eef you are able to assist ’im with ’is unnerstanding of ze geography of Akker. For zis ’e wants you to know zat ’e will be grateful. Very grateful – eef you unnerstan’ me?’
‘No,’ he said defiantly.
Cadoux drew his chair closer. ‘M’sieur – you do not comprehend! One does not refuse ze general’s politeness. Did I not express mysel’ sufficiently?’ He tried again. Then, frustrated at Kydd’s lack of response, he stood and left.
The day drew on. Clearly the defences of Acre were of vital interest to the French and there was little they would not do to secure the intelligence. Kydd’s capture must have seemed a godsend. His stomach was in a knot and he could not bring himself to eat; he wondered what his men had been given, but seamen were inured to poor food when victualling declined and would probably eat whatever was put before them.
He paced round the shabby room trying not to think about what must follow his stubbornness. The sun gentled into evening and Cadoux returned. He entered slowly, his right hand concealing something behind him. Kydd went cold: if this was the end he would not go meekly.
‘Lieutenant Keed, you are a very fortunate man.’
Kydd tensed. Then Cadoux whipped out his beloved fighting sword from behind his back. ‘You are to be exchange. General Buonaparte graciously agree, you may return to your ship.’ He bowed elegantly and proffered the scabbard as though Kydd had absentmindedly left it behind.
Hesitating in disbelief, Kydd reached out for his sword. Another figure entered the room, Smith’s secretary. ‘True enough, sir,’ the man said drily. ‘As soon as he heard, Sir Sidney sent me to Gen’ral Buonaparte, flag o’ truce. You – and your men – are to be exchanged for two Frenchmen we hold. If you’d come with me down to the quay…’
‘Fortunate? I’d say you were damn lucky, Kydd!’ Smith, in his cabin in Tigre, did not seem to share Kydd’s relief at his deliverance. ‘You know that you’ve cost me my only two French captives of worth?’ With a sigh he stared through the stern windows. ‘Buonaparte taking up his positions, bombarding me with demands to turn over the town to him immediately – I can do without these distractions.’ He turned to Kydd. ‘Now, pray tell me, sir, what the devil happened?’
Kydd swallowed. ‘Sir, there was no sign o’ the enemy – he must’ve lay down atop the quay.’
‘No doubt. In the event you couldn’t be sure, perhaps you should have first thought of sending a man to peer over the top?’ Kydd held his tongue. ‘And your retreat. Whatever possessed you to go to ground in a warehouse? Why did you not put about immediately and return?’ he added in disdain.
‘I lost five men, just in making f’r the barges,’ Kydd said. ‘The firing coming fr’m behind, I would’ve lost far more going against ’em until I got t’ open water.’ He felt Smith’s scorn at his words and added forcefully, ‘Someone tipped ’em off. An’ that can only be y’r precious source of intelligence.’
‘That’s as may be, Lieutenant, but I’ll trouble you to keep your temper in my presence,’ Smith said acidly.
‘Sir.’
‘In war, casualties are inevitable. I’ll have your written report before sundown, if you please. I imagine you’ll want to get back to your ship now?’
‘No – sir. If you will oblige me, I should want t’ go back ashore an’ finish the job.’
‘Very well,’ Smith said, with a slight smile. ‘Let it be on your own head, sir.’
Hewitt looked up from some Arab dish he was eating off a chipped plate. ‘Well, I can’t say that I find your good self unwelcome.’ He went to the window. ‘See there?’ He indicated to the north-east. Just out of range a city of grey tents in three main blocks, regular as a chessboard, was springing up row by row and covering the terrain facing them. ‘I’ve been watching ’em. And I believe we are looking at General Buonaparte’s headquarters in the centre, with the engineers to the left and artillery to the right.’