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Of war against lunatics I have already had enough.”
    When the
Merlin
left harbour next morning quite a few people saw that her captain was on the quarterdeck. Mr Stirling, moreover, who was ashore the previous night, was loud in his complaints about the weakness of his prize crew. “How am I to bring a large ship into Portsmouth with a dozen men and those the worst we have?” Below decks in the
Bonaparte
Delancey issued his orders to Stirling, Northmore, and Topley:
    â€œWe are to sail for Portsmouth the day after tomorrow. It is my belief that we shall be attacked by a privateer called the
Daphné
commanded by the former master of this ship, intent on recapturing her before she is brought into an English port.”
    â€œCan he do that, sir, in time of peace?” Northmore protested. “Surely the capture would be disallowed?”
    â€œOne would think so, Mr Northmore, but Charbonnier may have an answer to that. He may plan to bring the ship into an Italian port under a false name. All that is surmise. That he means to recapture the
Bonaparte
I am very reliably informed. I plan to surprise him. While he has reason to expect a weak prize crew, he will actually meet with strong resistance. I am merely guessing when I suppose that he may have thirty men in his boarding party. Given that sort of strength, he will find himself outnumbered by experienced and vigilant opponents. Mr Stirling, you will command this ship. I am on board merely as a passenger. Make your own plan for dealing with the privateersmen but remember that we don’t want to have any prisoners. Charbonnier, who will probably lead the attack,should be killed on sight. One other thing—don’t fire any cannon nor even any muskets if you can help it. The French should be cut down, bayonetted, knocked on the head. I suggest you let them on board before you reveal your strength. Is that all sufficiently clear? Mr Stirling?”
    â€œIs Charbonnier a madman, sir?”
    â€œUndoubtedly, Mr Stirling. His whole plan is mere lunacy.”
    â€œShall we capture the
Daphné,
sir?” asked Northmore.
    â€œNo,” replied Delancey. “We cannot take a prize in time of peace. Let her escape.”
    â€œWhat if the privateer opens fire on us?” asked Topley. “Are we to reply?”
    â€œShe won’t open fire.”
    â€œShould muskets be loaded, sir?” asked Northmore.
    â€œNo. Any further questions? Very well, Mr Stirling, take command of the prize. I shall be in the Captain’s cabin if you want me and I invite all officers to dine with me this afternoon.”
    In making Stirling assume the command, Delancey had acted again on instinct. He felt that Charbonnier had some other trick up his sleeve. He wanted to think about it and decide how it should be countered. In taking no part in the action he was giving Stirling some useful experience but neither he nor anyone else was going to gain credit from the sort of skirmish which no government would want to know about. Was it just possible that Charbonnier had obtained the co-operation of another privateer, one that was better armed and manned than the
Daphné?
Would Stirling find himself outnumbered after all? Over dinner he heard something about Stirling’s plan, which seemed very sensible.
    When the time came for the expected attack the night was dark, the sea nearly calm, and the westerly breeze no more than moderate. The presence of the privateer was more sensed than seen for she showed no light and made no sound. She was there all right and edged down from to windward, a shadow among shadows but with purposeful movement. There was no sound of her boats being lowered (she must have been towing them) and the helmsman could fairly start with surprise when the first of them came alongside.
    The leader of the first boatload was evidently young and without experience, placed at the head of men who were not the desperadoes for which the scene