fruit.
(laughter)
So, Mr. Hornblower.
Her grace tells me
that you were careless enough
as to sail your ship
straight into the middle
of the Spanish fleet.
I must protest, sir.
Those were not my words.
Colonel:
But that was your meaning.
Massaredo:
Come.
Colonel, a truce
prevails here.
Fog and wind can
make fools of any man.
(chuckles)
No, I meant no offense
to Mr. Hornblower,
Your Excellency.
And besides,
I was going to thank him.
If he had not made
his unlucky rendezvous
we wouldn't have the pleasure
of Her Grace's company
Tonight.
It is some years
since I was in London
but I believe, madam,
we may have met before.
I don't recall it, sir.
Did you find London pleasing?
After a fashion.
I confess that,
compared to Paris
I found it dirty and crowded,
and the food, well...
But your theater,
on the other hand
second to none.
Is it true there was
an engagement
off Cape St. Vincent recently, sir?
There was.
Do you wish to embarrass
a Spanish gentleman
in front of his guests?
The Rivals, madam.
That was one of the plays I saw.
I hear it is a sad piece.
Oh, no, madam.
Most comical.
Oh. I prefer tragedy.
But it is more
than a comedy.
It is a play about deceit.
You know better than me.
I'm not often in London.
I didn't like
that froggie gent, Mr. H.
Not at all.
He seemed to like you.
I've no idea why.
Perhaps because you were
in the play he saw.
The Rivals, was it?
Or perhaps
it was Macbeth.
Though I do believe
you would have made a fine
Lady Languish, Miss Cobham.
Do you deny it?
Why should I?
But I don't understand.
Why?
Because I want
to go home.
But this whole... this charade, the
Duchess of Wharfedale.
She exists,
exactly as I played her.
Where are my dispatches?
Hidden.
Give them to me.
Am I untrustworthy
without a title?
You are untrustworthy
because you lied.
The dispatches.
(knocking)
Who is it?
De Vergesse.
May I come in?
Follow my lead.
I didn't know
you were already
entertaining, madam.
Oh, two prisoners
keeping each other company,
that's all.
Two very interesting prisoners.
The actress who
pretends to be a duchess.
The boy who pretends
to be a captain.
I take offense, sir.
It is, of course,
an excellent way
of gathering information.
The duchess and the
English naval officer
whose ship just happens to sail
into the Spanish fleet.
You give him
too much credit, sir.
Do I?
I wonder what the penatty
for spying is here.
Death for him, certainly.
And for you, Miss Cobham
in the New Republic
of France
the guillotine does not
discriminate between sexes.
I confess, sir.
You confess what, madam?
To my foolishness.
For trusting this boy.
Had I known he would sail me
into a nest of dons
I can assure you I would
still be resting in comfort
at Gibrattar.
This is such a dull post
to be imprisoned on.
I have no one for company
except an old aristocrat
and a callow youth.
It does me such good to speak
with a man at last.
But to whom to I talk?
The duchess
or the actress?
(laughs)
Both the actress and
the duchess want to go home.
Let us say you are talking
to the woman.
Horatio, are you still here?
But, Your Grace...
Go to your cell,
Horatio.
What's wrong, Horatio?
Just planning our escape, Archie.
What do you want?
Your lack of civility
does you no credit, sir.
How was your friend,
Colonel de Vergesse?
He is not a friend.
You were more
than friendly.
I did what was necessary
to preserve my alias.
It is lucky for you
that you had
such a valuable bargaining card
to hand, wasn't it?
Oh.
You still have them.
Clearly.
It is lucky for you
that last night I had
another card to play.
At least it bought
his silence.
But how could you?
What is it to you?
Are you jealous?
(sighs)
You completely
misunderstand me.
If I resisted de Vergesse
he would announce my secret
which would lead
to my arrest as a spy
and the