Governor Ramage R. N. by Dudley Pope Read Free Book Online Page B

…”
    St Brieuc nodded, deep in thought. “Yes, I see … In politics it is simple: proving the admiral guilty automatically proves the government innocent. The mob are too stupid to realize that finding an admiral guilty of disobeying the Fighting Instructions—however outdated and absurd they are—doesn’t make a government innocent of stupidity, neglect and acting too late…. Pamphleteers, rumours, lies and accusations circulated as gossip…. The methods don’t change with the centuries or the countries.”
    â€œThe vendetta with this Admiral Goddard,” St Cast asked—a wealth of meaning in the way he said “this”—”how did that begin?”
    â€œMy father’s trial split the Navy. Most of the old admirals—those supporting the government—were against him, while the young officers were on his side because they wanted to change the old tactics.”
    â€œBut the vendetta?”
    â€œIt’s complicated! The officers forming the court martial … well, they were senior, and they knew the government could fall …”
    â€œIf they found him not guilty,” Yorke commented, “they could say goodbye to further promotion.”
    Again Ramage shrugged. It was true; it was obvious; men as sophisticated as these three needed nothing spelled out.
    â€œHe was found guilty and dismissed the Service. The young officers protested, petitioned the King, fought the verdict—or, rather, the significance of the verdict—in Parliament, but to no purpose. There were five admirals and one captain forming the court. The captain was comparatively young but he had plenty of ‘interest’—patronage in other words. His wife is a distant relative of the King …
    â€œFor reasons no one has ever understood,” Ramage continued, “long after the trial was over, long after the government was saved and new elections had put them back in power and when the affair of Admiral the Earl of Blazey was a matter of history, this captain continued to attack my family in every way he could.”
    â€œAnd his name,” Yorke said, “is Goddard.”
    St Cast’s fingers tapped the arm of his chair. “Motives … surely he must have reasons … why?”
    St Brieuc glanced up.
“Pourquoi?
I will tell you. First, he did what he thought would gain him favour. Afterwards it became a habit and later an obsession…. Such men always become obsessed by something: religion, gambling, the mathematics of chance…. It gives them a purpose in life—something they previously lacked. In politics, certain insignificant cretins spend their lives constantly attacking a great man. When he falls—as he will, though not because of their efforts—they hope to reap a harvest. Do you agree?”
    Ramage nodded slowly. “M’sieur … I’d never thought of it as a habit or an obsession, but I think you are right.”
    St Brieuc also nodded, but Ramage had the feeling he had merely read his thoughts because he continued: “A vendetta is never more than a habit. Its victims, whichever side they’re on, inherit it like an estate. The Montagues and the Capulets. Each family had an entailed legacy—a hatred for the other. Hatred or obsession is the easiest emotion to sustain because it feeds its own flames.”
    â€œIs it against your brothers, too?” asked Maxine.
    â€œI am the only child.”
    â€œAgainst you alone, then.”
    â€œAgainst my father, through me.”
    â€œHave
you
no patrons?” her father asked.
    â€œNo, but a commodore—”
    â€œA
commodore!”
exclaimed Yorke. “Why, you need at least a vice-admiral.”
    â€œAs many as possible,” Ramage said dryly, “but anyway, this commodore helps bring my story up to date.”
    â€œAh, I can guess,” Yorke exclaimed. “I take back what I said about