“That’s exceedingly kind of you. There’s just myself and four servants. They can sleep anywhere.”
“I’ll see they’re well berthed. Ah, thank you,” Struan said to the steward as his glass was refilled. “Is she a four-masted brig?”
“Three.”
“I prefer three-masters mysel’. Much handier in a high sea. Sails are easier to reef. You carry royals and a top ta’-gallants?”
“There seem to be an adequate number of sails, Mr. Struan. Whatever their names.”
Struan had caught the imperceptible hesitation, and he knew that Zergeyev was a seaman. Now, why would he wish to hide that?
“I hear the Middle East crisis has been solved,” Zergeyev said.
“Yes,” Longstaff replied. “The news came by the mail packet.”
“Most fortunate. France was more than a little wise to withdraw from her militant position.”
“The importance of the Dardanelles to Britain is obvious,” Longstaff said. “It’s to the advantage of all of us to keep the peace.”
“It’s a pity that France and Prussia seem to feel the opposite. And the Hapsburgs. Britain and Russia are hereditary allies and their interests are similar. It’s a happy thought that we’ll be working more closely together in the future.”
“Yes,” Longstaff said blandly. “Of course Paris is very close to London.”
“Isn’t it a pity that that glorious city should always seem to find the most curious leaders?” Zergeyev said. “A beautiful people, beautiful. Yet their leaders are always puffed with vanity and seemingly determined to pull the world apart.”
“The great problem of the world, Your Highness. Europe, and how to curb the vanity of princes. Of course, in Britain we’re fortunate to have a Parliament, and the might of Britain no longer goes to war on a single man’s whim.”
“Yes. It’s a great and glorious experiment, one fit for the splendid attributes of your country, sir. But it’s not suitable for all nations. Wasn’t it the ancient Greeks who came to the conclusion that the most perfect form of government was a benevolent dictatorship? The rule of one man?”
“Benevolent, yes. But elected. Not a ruler by divine right.”
“Who can say, with absolute surety, that divine right does not exist?”
“Ah, Your Highness,” Longstaff said, “no one questions the existence of God. Only the right of a king to do what he likes, when he likes, without consulting the people. We’ve had a long line of English ‘divine’ kings whom we’ve found to be fallible. Fallibility in a leader is very trying. Isn’t it? They spill so much of other people’s blood.”
Zergeyev chuckled. “I love the humor of the English.” He glanced at Struan. “You’re Scots, Mr. Struan?”
“Aye. British. There’s nae difference between Scots and English nowadays.” He sipped his wine. “We tired of stealing their cattle. We thought it’d be better to steal the whole country, so we left Scotland and moved south.”
They all laughed and drank more wine.
Longstaff was amused to note that Monsey had remained silent throughout the meal, agitated by Struan’s bluffness.
“What do you think, Mr. Struan?” Zergeyev said. “Could you run The Noble House with a ‘Parliament’ to contend with?”
“No, Your Highness. But I only commit a
company into conflict—into competition—with other traders. I risk only myself and my company. Na the lives of others.”
“Yet there is a war now with China. Because the heathen had the temerity to interfere with your trade. Isn’t that correct?”
“Partially. Of course, the decision for war was hardly mine.”
“Of course. My point was that you have sole right to operate a vast trading concern and that is the most efficient way. One man’s rule. Right for a company, a fleet, a nation.”
“Aye. Provided you’re successful,” Struan said, making a joke. Then he added seriously, “Perhaps, for the present, a parliamentary system is not suitable for Russia—-and some other countries—but I’m convinced this earth will never be at peace until all nations have the English parliamentary system, and all the people have a right to vote, and no single man ever controls the destiny of any nation, either by divine right or by right of stupid votes of a stupid electorate.”
“I agree,” Zergeyev said. “Your hypothesis is correct. But it has one vast flaw. You presume an enlightened world population—all equally educated, all equally prosperous— which is of course impossible, isn’t it? You should travel in Russia to see how impossible that is. And you make no allowances for nationalism or for differences in faith. If you added ‘until all nations are Christian,’ then perhaps you would be correct. But how can you imagine French Catholics will agree with Protestant English? Or the Russian Orthodox Church with Spanish Jesuits? Or all of those with the masses of infidel Mohammedans and they with the miserable Jews and they with the idolaters and heathen?”
Struan took a deep breath. “I’m glad you asked that question,” he said and stopped with finality.
“I can see we will be having many interesting discussions,” Longstaff said easily. “Tea, Your Highness? There’s a prizefight in an hour. If you’re not too tired, perhaps you’d care to witness it. It promises to be quite a match. The navy versus the army.”
“I’d be delighted, Excellency. Which do you pick? I’ll take the opposition.”
“A guinea on the navy.”
“Done.”
After lunch they had tea and cigars, and at length Monsey escorted the archduke back to the mail packet. Longstaff dismissed the stewards.
“I think a frigate should instantly ‘happen’ to take a visit to Singapore,” he said to Struan.
“I had the same thought, Will. He’s a seaman, I’m sure.”
“Yes. That was very clever, Dirk.” Longstaff played with his teacup. “And he’s a most astute man. Such a man would probably be most careful with official documents.”
“I had the same thought.”
“I enjoyed my stay in St. Petersburg. Except for the long hours at school. I had to learn to read and write Russian, as well as French, of course. Russian’s a very difficult language.”
Struan poured some tea. “You never did like prizefights, did you, Will?”
“No. I think I’ll just escort him ashore and then come back aboard. Take a nap in private.” Longstaff laughed dryly. “Prepare for tonight’s festivities, what?”
Struan got up. “Aye. And I’d better think of a few seeds of discontent to sow mysel’.”
As the stewards cleared the table, Longstaff stared idly at the leaves in his cup. “No,” he said, retaining it and the teapot. “And see that I’m not disturbed. Call me in an hour.”
“Yes, sirr.”
He stifled a yawn, his mind drifting pleasantly in the quiet of the cabin. ’Pon me word, I’m delighted Zergeyev’s here. Now we can enjoy life a little. Parry and thrust diplomatically. Probe his mind, that’s the ticket. Forget the incessant irritations of the colony, and the damned traders and the cursed emperor of the cursed heathen, damn bunch of thieves.
He opened the door to his private cabin and lay comfortably on the bunk, his hands behind his head. What was it Dirk said? he asked himself. Ah yes, seeds of discontent. That’s a good way of putting it. What seeds can