Patrick O'Brian

The Reverse of the Medal

1986. HarperCollins, 1997.

"It will probably be one of them," said Stephen, as his coach carried him swiftly towards the Regent's park...There was no sun, but the high pale sky sent down a strong diffused light and Stephen recognized the man almost at once. He smiled, ducked under the rail and walked out over the rough meadow towards the distant figure. Far to the west a flock of sheep were grazing, white on the vivid green: he passed a hare in her form, clapped close with her ears flat, persuaded she was invisible and so near he could have touched her, and at a suitable distance he called out "Duhamel, I am happy to see you again," taking off his hat as he did so

Circa 1814: the two men are spies, Duhamel in the French service, and a bargain has been struck involving the restoration of a diamond 'far more brilliant, far bluer than Stephen's mental image, a most glorious thing, cold and heavy in his hand.'

"Thank you," he said, slipping it into his breeches pocket after a long moment's silent gaze, "I am very much indebted to you, Duhamel...Shall we walk back towards the town?...Generally speaking questions are out of place in our calling, but may I ask whether it would be safe for you to come and drink a cup of coffee with me? There is a French pastry-cook in Marylebone who understands the making of coffee, a rare accomplishment in this island"

The awfulness of English coffee was a frequent cause of complaint. A German visitor, Karl P. Moritz, wrote, ''I would always advise those who wish to drink coffee in England, to mention beforehand how many cups are to be made with half an ounce; or else the people will probably bring them a prodigious quantity of brown water; which (notwithstanding all my admonitions) I have not yet been wholly able to avoid.' (Letter of 5th June, 1782, in Travels, Chiefly on Foot, Through Several Parts of England in 1782.)