Captain Pellew, come in, sir.
My apologies for requiring you
at such short notice.
-Not at all, my Lord.
-Captain Pellew,...
may I introduce General, le baron
de Charette,
commander in chief of His Majesty
King Louis's army in exile.
The general is going to invade France
and we're going to help him.
Once your ships have carried us
across the Channel,
we shall raise an army of the people
and march on Paris-
to restore His Most Catholic Majesty
onto the throne.
May I ask, sir, how many men you
expect to raise for this army?
Within a matter of days,
I shall have 10,000,-
maybe 20,000 men in arms.
Then we shall move east, gathering
more as we go.
Never doubt the loyalty of the people
monsieur.
I understand, sir, in fact, arms have
been raised-
against the rebel government before.
-Certainly, many times.
-…without any success.
Captain Pellew,
for 5 years I have lived in exile
while traitors-
have laid waste to my country.
Well, now the nobility of France
is going home;
and this time, when my countrymen
fight,
we, their rightful leaders,
will lead them into battle.
Can I not take it, sir,...
that we have your support in
this great venture?
Oh yes, Baron, you can depend on
Captain Pellew's full support.
You have His Britannic Majesty's
word on it.
-How do I look?
-A most startling improvement,
if I may say so, sir.
So,with 2 shirts,half britches,
buttons and buckles,the sum is-
11 lb. 9 shillings and three pence.
Perhaps pinchbeck instead of silver
for the shoe buckles?
That would make it ... shall we say,
11 lb even.?
Very well, Mr. Collins.
I asure you, baron is still a
figure head-
amongst those loyal to King Louis.
His name will provide the spark-
that sets all northern France afire.
But the Royalist force, my lord,
they're nothing more than-
the remnants of a defeated army.
-A final cast of the dice,I grant you
-Indeed sir,
-and a desperate one.
-You forget what is at stake,
Sir Edward.
For the cost of ferrying
General Charette-
and his men across the Channel,
we can put an end to-
the war with France.
Surely, even in your estimation,-
it's a trifling effort for a place
in history.
Yes, but, if the expedition
should fail, sir,-
what of the cost in lives?
Men die every day this war
continues. When it's over,-
we may count costs at our leisure.
Make way!  Make way!
-My lord!  My lord!
-Speak up, man!
-The orders…
-Well?
Gone, my lord.
My lord?
He was carrying a copy
of General Charette's-
plan to the First Lord.
Oh, my God!
-What if they fall into enemy hands?
-Well,we do not know that.
They may be at the bottom of
the Thames, the thieves drunk-
-in a tavern.
-Sir, what if they're not?
His Majesty's government
has decided,
and they are not in the business
of changing their minds.
Should General Charette
know of this?
I don't believe there's any need
to trouble him.
What has passed here will remain
between ourselves.
Is that understood?
Yes, sir.
However, since it would not be
politic for King Louis-
to think that we might have cast
his general ashore unaided,
you will remain on station after
the General has disembarked.
If worse comes to worst,
you can provide him-
-with a means of escape.
-As you wish, sir.
Very well.  You have your orders,
Captain Pellew.
Carry on, sir.
-Mr. Hornblower!
-Sir!
Well, don't stand there dawdling,
sir. We must return-
to Plymouth as soon as possible.
Welcome aboard, sir.
A profitable meeting at the Admiralty
I trust.
Quite satisfactory, Mr. Bracegirdle.
Signal the ships Dunbarton, Sophia
and Catherine and-
request the attendance of their
captains in one hour.
Mr. Hornblower, my compliments
to the senior officers.
I will see them in my cabin
in 20 minutes.
-Aye, sir.
-So, Mr. Hornblower, what news?
I know no more than you,
Mr. Bracegirdle.
Well, I expect we shall find out.
By the way, I think you have a splash
of mud on your jacket.
You look every inch